'World's oldest flamingo' dies in Australian zoo at 83

A flamingo believed to be the oldest of its kind in the world has died at the age of 83 in Australia.

Greater the flamingo was put to sleep on Friday due to complications brought about by arthritis and old age, officials at Adelaide Zoo said.

The flamingo, named after its species, arrived at the zoo in 1933 and was a popular attraction.

Flamingos are wading birds with a very specialised diet. They have far shorter life spans in the wild.

Greater flamingos - scientific name Phoenicopterus roseus - are usually larger than lesser flamingos and are characterised by pale plumage and pink bills.

Greater the flamingo, who survived a bad beating by a group of teenagers in 2008, was a zoo favourite, officials said.

"Greater is best known for being the world's oldest flamingo and the last greater flamingo to have resided in Australia," Elaine Bensted, Zoos South Australia chief executive, told Agence-France Presse news agency.  "Although this is an extremely sad loss for us all, it was the right thing to do," she said, adding that there was no treatment that could have improved the flamingo's quality of life.

The flamingo is survived by companion Chilly the Chilean flamingo, 65, said to be the last flamingo in Australia.

Zoo officials said they would keep a close watch on Chilly to see if there was any reaction to Greater's death.    They were also considering a memorial for Greater, they said. (BBC)

PRESIDENCY DENIES PRINT MEDIA REPORTS ON FORMER SERVICE CHIEFS

The Presidency has refuted media reports quoting President Jonathan as explaining that the former Service Chiefs were sacked because of “unhealthy competition” amongst them.

FILE PHOTO

A statement by Presidential Spokesman, Reuben Abati, said the mischief and reckless sensationalism, by a section of the media, deliberately chose to misrepresent the President’s innocent and clear call for greater synergy and inter-service cooperation in the war against terrorism.

Dr Abati said President Jonathan did not at anytime during his remarks in Yola, Adamawa State say that the former chiefs were guilty of undue rivalry, nor did he say, as claimed by some newspapers, that such unhealthy rivalry was responsible for recent security breaches in Adamawa and other parts of the country.

Dr Abati said President Jonathan has nothing but praise for the manner in which the outgoing service chiefs executed their most daunting constitutional duties.

MAURITANIAN PRESIDENT ELECTED NEW AFRICAN UNION, AU PRESIDENT

Mauritania has been elected the new Chairman of the African Union, AU, with President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz taking over from Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn of Ethiopia.

The election took place at the ongoing 22nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the AU.

The result of the election was announced, yesterday in Addis Ababa during the opening session of the AU summit.

Other countries elected into the AU Bureau for one year included Zimbabwe, which was elected as first Vice President, Democratic Republic of Congo, second Vice President; and Nigeria, third Vice President.

In his acceptance speech, Aziz pledged to promote the objectives of the continental body, and commended the out-gone president for strengthening the role of Africa in the world.

He also praised African leaders for their ‘tireless efforts’ in ensuring that Africa took its rightful place in the world.

“I am deeply honoured to be the chairperson of AU; this, for me, is a mark of confidence which I truly appreciate,” he said. President Goodluck Jonathan who attended the meeting is expected to return to Abuja today. (VANGUARD)

Mauritania has been elected the new Chairman of the African Union, AU, with President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz taking over from Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn of Ethiopia.
The election took place at the ongoing 22nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the AU.
The result of the election was announced, yesterday in Addis Ababa during the opening session of the AU summit.
Other countries elected into the AU Bureau for one year included Zimbabwe, which was elected as first Vice President, Democratic Republic of Congo, second Vice President; and Nigeria, third Vice President.
In his acceptance speech, Aziz pledged to promote the objectives of the continental body, and commended the out-gone president for strengthening the role of Africa in the world.
He also praised African leaders for their ‘tireless efforts’ in ensuring that Africa took its rightful place in the world.
“I am deeply honoured to be the chairperson of AU; this, for me, is a mark of confidence which I truly appreciate,” he said. President Goodluck Jonathan who attended the meeting is expected to return to Abuja today.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/01/mauritanian-president-elected-new-au-chairman/#sthash.phXQQmm8.dpuf

STOLLEN Papal relic case found but blood-soaked cloth still missing

Italian police hunting for a stolen relic bearing the blood of Pope John Paul ll have recovered its gold and glass case, officials say.

But the cloth stained with the blood itself is still missing.

The cloth came from a cassock that John Paul was wearing in 1981, when a gunman tried to assassinate him.

Three suspects, who allegedly stole the relic from the church in the Abruzzo region but threw the cloth away not realising its value, were arrested.

A search is under way on the outskirts of L'Aquila city. It is concentrated on an area built for people made homeless by the region's 2009 earthquake.

Crucifix found

The relic - a framed, tiny square of cloth - was stolen last weekend during a burglary of the San Pietro della Ienca church in the mountains of Abruzzo.

It was a place of special significance to the ski-loving Pope who died in 2005.

Pasquale Corriere, head of the association that looks after the small church, told the Reuters news agency that two suspects had taken police to the area where they had dumped the reliquary.

The case was found, but the cloth was no longer inside, he said.

However a small crucifix which was stolen along with the reliquary was recovered.

The ANSA news agency - citing police sources - said that the thieves "did not understand the relic's value".

"[They] cannot remember where they threw away the precious loot," the agency reported.(BBC)

SUMMARY OF THE NATIONAL CONFAB MODALITIES

Modalities for the much talked about National Conference has been unveiled in Abuja.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim said today that the name of the

conversation shall be "The National Conference" and that it will hold in Abuja.

He added that the confab which will last for three months, shall have a Conference

Management Secretariat to coordinate its affairs.

Decisions, which must exclude divisibility of Nigeria, shall be by consensus; but where

not achievable; it shall be by 75% majority.

Aside advising the Government on the legal framework and options for integrating the

confab decisions into the nation’s Constitution, the National Conference shall have a

Chairperson and a Deputy Chairperson of flawless integrity. 

A total of 492 delegates draw from the media, former public office holders and military

officers, religious and civil society groups, as well as the academia and people with

disabilities, will participate at the conference.

Senator Anyim Pius Anyim fixed the 20^th of next month, as deadline for nomination of delegates for the conference. Formal inauguration of the Conference will hold after the list of nominees have been submitted. The conference is expected to gulp seven billion naira.