INDIAN POLICE TO USE SLING-SHOTS 'CATAPULT' AGAINST PROTESTERS

Police in India's Haryana state say they will soon begin using slingshots to control violent protesters.

Policemen are being trained to use the weapons, despite concerns over their safety for crowd control.

Abhishek Jorwal, chief of police in Haryana's Jind district, told the BBC that the slingshots "were made after a lot of research and development".

The "specially-designed" slingshots would be in addition to batons, tear gas and other weapons currently in use.

Mr Jorwal said the "idea is to avoid the use of lethal weapons against the protesters".

"Officers have been instructed to use slingshots and tear gas shells, and keep guns and bullets as the last option."

Marbles and chilli balls, packed in small bags carried by the policemen, will be used as ammunition for the slingshots.

"Marbles and chilli balls won't cause any permanent damage but will pack enough punch to push protesters back," he said.

Handmade weapons, such as slingshots, are rarely used as a weapon by security forces in India.

But the use of non-lethal weapons, such as pellet guns, in trouble-hit areas such as disputed Kashmir has resulted in serious injuries to protesters and bystanders.

Correspondents say there concerns marbles and other objects fired from police catapults could also badly injure civilians. (BBC)

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STATISTICS FORECASTS 3.78% GROWTH IN NIGERIA IN 2016

The National Bureau of Statistics says despite the drop in oil prices, the Nigerian economy is expected to grow by 3.78 percent this year, up from 2.97 percent in 2015

The NBS in its forecast released in Abuja, sees growth to reach an average of 5.41 percent yearly between 2017 and 2019 as infrastructure development provide support for both the oil and non-oil sectors.

The statistics office while expecting the central bank’s adjustment of the foreign exchange management framework to be steadied this year thus helping prices to gradually ease beyond 2016, said over the 2017 to 2019 period, inflation is expected to average 9.01 percent.

 
Last week, Nigeria’s foreign reserves fell to $28.2 billion, its lowest level since 2005.

SUPREME COURT SENDS SARAKI BACK TO THE CODE OF CONDUCT TRIBIUNAL

The Supreme Court today ruled that the President of the Nigerian Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, must return to the Code of Conduct Tribunal to face trial in his alleged false assets declaration, during his tenure as Governor of Kwara state.

 The Apex court threw out all the grounds presented before it by Senator Saraki, seeking the discontinuation of his trial by the CCT.
The Supreme Court therefore held that Saraki’s suit lacked merit and ruled that the Senate President must return to the Tribunal to defend the thirteen count charge bordering on false declaration of assets during his tenure as governor of Kwara state in 2003.
The Supreme Court overruled Saraki’s prayers that the CCT’s sitting with only two members was unconstitutional.

In the lead judgement Walter Onoghen held that by virtue of Section 28 of the Interpretation Act, the sitting of two members was valid, adding that the intention of the law establishing the Code of Conduct Tribunal is to make its proceedings criminal.
It equally ruled that the Tribunal has quasi jurisdiction and so can issue bench warrant contrary to Saraki’s argument.  

After the verdict, Saraki’s camp was in pensive mood, as they had expected the Apex Court to halt Senate President’s CCT trial.

BREAKING NEWS!!! SUPREME COURT SENDS SARAKI BACK TO CODE OF CONDUCT TRIBUNAL

Supreme Court rules that Senate President, Bukola Saraki’s false assets declaration trial should continue at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.