A bride-to-be in England is having a difficult time finding a dressmaker willing to create her dream wedding dress that shed like to be festooned with locks of her dead mothers hair, reports said.

The woman made a sketch of the floor-length ball gown and requested that the bodice around the midsection of the dress to have a lacy, floral design made with the hair.

According to BBC, the anonymous 61-year-old wrote on a fashion manufacturing website that she wants to recreate the dress that her mother wore when her parents married in 1953.

She admitted that the request is quite weird but posted that she started to collect the hair before her mother died and now has a full box of hair.

At the time, I wasnt sure why I was collecting, she posted. However, now I think I do.

The BBCs report said that in the 19th century it was not uncommon to mourn a loved one through locks of their hair, and reported that those living in the U.S. would make wreaths filled with locks of hair.

The founder of Sewport, the website where the woman made the request, said it is unusual for requests to go this long without a response.

Alix Bizet, a designer who has made clothing with human hair, told the Independent that hair is not easy to work with.

Using human hair is often perceived as gross and unethical, due to the past history in Europe (the Nazis) but also because it has been associated with cannibalism, she said.

Hair is a highly emotional subject that for some people is closely linked to the identity of a person like an extension of their existence. It can be almost spiritual.

Source: NAN

Ethiopias parliament today approved Sahle-Work Zewde as the countrys new president, the first woman to hold the post.

Sahle-Work, who was born 21 February, 1950, in Addis Ababa, is at present U.N. under secretary general and special representative of the secretary general to the African Union.

She replaces Mulatu Teshome Wirtu, who tendered his resignation to parliament earlier on Wednesday. Wirtu had been president since 2013.

Fitsum Arega, Chief of staff to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed described the appointment of Sahle-Work as historic.

In a tweet today, Arega said: In a historic move, the two Houses have elected Ambassador Sahle-Work Zewde as the next President of Ethiopia.

She is the first female head of state in modern Ethiopia. A career diplomat

Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has disappointed those who wish he dumps his All Progressives Congress (APC) like others who failed to win their parties ticket for 2019 elections.

He sent a clear message on Tuesday that he would lead a strong campaign to ensure victory for President Muhammadu Buhari.

He also pledged his support for the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The governor made the remarks on Tuesday at the Presidential Wing of the Muritala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos.

He spoke to reporters shortly after he accompanied President Buhari to perform the official commissioning of the new Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Border Post at Seme-Krake in Badagry.

Just to also use this opportunity to let Lagosians (Lagos residents) know that we are heavily committed to the re-election of Mr President and you can see that his continuous visit to Lagos reiterates the fact that he is actually a lover of Lagos State and I am committed to ensuring his re-election, said Governor Ambode.

I have just accompanied Mr President to the Nigerian-Benin Border Post. So, what we have commissioned today is a joint Border Patrol post between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin and it is called Semo-Krake Border Post.

According to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Habib Aruna, the governor stated the importance for the APC to retain its leadership positions both at the Federal and the state levels.

We are going to campaign heavily for him (Buhari), he reiterated. I am also committed to ensuring that the APC wins the governorship election come 2019.

Ambode added, We support the candidacy of Babajide Sanwo-Olu and we would make sure that APC retains Lagos State and the centre.

Earlier, the governor received the President at the airport before they proceeded to Seme where President Buhari joined his Republic of Benin counterpart, Patrice Talon, to inaugurate the Border Post.

The Seme-Krake joint border, one of the busiest boundary lines not only in West Africa but the whole continent, records a huge movement of persons, goods and services daily,

With the inauguration, the border post is expected to enhance the free movement of persons and goods in the region and foster integration between the people of Nigeria and Benin.

Source: NAN

The Senate on Tuesday passed a new and fourth version of the Electoral Act 2010 (Amendment) Bill, 2018.

President Muhammadu Buhari had declined assent to the bill three times, citing some constitutional and drafting issues.

During the just-ended annual recess of the National Assembly, its Joint Committee on INEC met to work on the document based on the issues raised by the president.

Tuesdays passage of the bill followed the adoption of the report of the committee presented by its Chairman, Sen. Suleiman Nazif.

Nazif had said that the committee addressed all the issues raised by the president in withdrawing assent to the bill.

Speaking on the development, the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, said he hoped the president would now assent to the proposed law.

Let me congratulate all of us, particularly the Committee on Electoral Matters for the hard work they put in.

We were able to achieve this that looked almost impossible at a time, and I want to commend everybody for making this happen.

This will go a long way in improving our electoral process and further strengthen our governance.

I am sure with this now, Mr President will of course give his assent, and we can now finally have an Electoral Act that we would all be proud of, Saraki said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the amendment seeks to provide the use of Card Readers and any other similar technological devices for the election, among others, according to Nazif.

Source: NAN

(Reuters/NAN) A leading bank regulator on Tuesday fined Capital One Bank 100 million dollars for failing to enforce anti-money laundering controls that have been in place for years.

Capital One failed to satisfy a 2015 consent order that demanded the bank improve its anti-money laundering policies, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) said in a statement.

The Bank failed to timely achieve compliance with the 2015 Consent Order, the OCC said in a new consent order that outlined the fine.

Capital One said it disclosed the issue to the OCC in July 2015.

The consent order emanates primarily from prior banking relationships with certain cheque cashing service providers a business we made the decision to exit in 2014, the bank said.

Since that time, we have worked diligently with our bank regulators to strengthen our processes and internal controls to ensure we address any concerns regarding our compliance processes.

Source: NAN

Ogun state government has described as a lie from the pit of hell, the reports thatErnest Shonekan, former head of interim national government, is dead.

Taiwo Adeoluwa, secretary to the State Government dispelled the rumour on Tuesday.

He said Ibikunle Amosun, governor of the state, has spoken with Shonekan who reportedly told the governor that he is hale and hearty.

Tributes have been pouring in for Shonekan on social media based on the reports.

Born onMay 9, 1936, Shonekan is a British-trained lawyer and an industrialist.

He was appointed interim head of the country after ex-Military President Ibrahim Babangida stepped down on August 26, 1993.

Babangida had refused to hand over power to MKO Abiola, acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 election, but relinquished power after intense pressure.

Shonekans administration only lasted three months as Sani Abacha forcefully took power through a coup.

The elder statesman hails from Abeokuta, Ogun state. He attended C.M.S grammar school and Igbobi College, Lagos and was obtained a law degree from the University of London.

Source: NAN

Former Ekiti governor Ayodele Fayose was granted bail this morning over the N30.8 billion fraud charge slammed on him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

His trial will start on 19 November, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun ruled.

Fayose was docked at the Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday alongside his company, Spotless Investment Ltd on an 11-count charge of N30.8 billion fraud.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

His lawyer Kanu Agabi SAN, moved a motion for his bail, after which the judge ordered Fayoses remand in EFCC custody and adjourned hearing till today.

Justice Olatoregun heard the arguments by Agabi and EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs today,

Agabi, a former Federal Attorney-General , urged the court to grant Fayose bail on the ground that he voluntarily submitted himself to EFCC a day after leaving office as Governor of Ekiti State.

In addition, he said, Fayose has no criminal record.

Mr Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, prosecuting for EFCC, countered on the ground that the day Fayose appeared in EFCC Abuja he came with a lot of hoodlums that nearly attacked the EFCC operatives before they were repelled.

He was probably to the crowd that included Governor Nyesom Wike and former aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode.

Rotimi also told the court that investigation is still ongoing to trace some of the properties bought by Fayose with the stolen money and if granted bail, he will scuttle investigation.

Justice Mojisola Olatoregun said since the offence alleged to have been committed is a bailable offence, she was inclind to grant Fayose bail.

She thus granted Fayose bail in the sum of N50million with one surety who must own a landed property in Lagos.

The surety must possess three years tax clearance and must also secure a bond of N50million from a reputable bank which will be forfeited if Fayose jumps bail.

Fayose was also ordered to swear to an affidavit not to tamper with the witnesses and should deposit his international passport with the chief Registrar of the court.

Thereafter, she adjourned the trial till 19th of Novenber, 2018.

Source: NAN

Meghan Markles only solo engagement during her royal tour of Oceania with Prince Harry was cut short this morning when she was hurried out of a crowded market in Fiji.

Kensington Palace initially said the pregnant royals sudden departure was down to uncomfortable conditions but later added that there had been crowd management issues, reports.

The Duchess was atthe marketin the capital, Suva,to meet female stallholders involved in a UN Women project called Markets for Change,which seeks to promote a safe, inclusive environment for women vendors in a number of South Pacific nations.

According to the, Meghan was spotted whispering to one of her royal aides before leaving the market with her security team just eight minutes into the scheduled 15-minute visit.

Onlookers say the Duchess looked concerned, as she greeted large crowds and did not seem like her usual self, the newspaper adds.

Meghan and Prince Harry are currently on their first overseas tour together since getting married in May. Their 16-day trip started in Australia, and will continue on to Tonga and New Zealand, says the.

Prior to the market incident, the Duchess delivered her first speech of the tour during a visit with her husband to the University of the South Pacific.

Calling for greater educational opportunities for women in developing countries, she told the audience:Everyone should be afforded the opportunity to receive the education they want, but more importantly, the education they have the right to receive.

The Duke thentravelled alone to Colo-i-Suva Forest Park, where he planted a tree and unveil a plaque to mark its dedication.

Source: NAN

European Union lawmakers moved on Wednesday to ban widely-used, throw-away plastics such as straws, bags and cotton buds, putting the burden on manufacturers to recycle more in an effort to clear up ocean pollution.

Under the proposal, overwhelmingly backed by the European Parliament, some single-used plastic products with readily available alternatives would be banned by 2021.

EU states would be obliged to recycle 90 per cent of plastic bottles by 2025, while producers would help to cover costs of waste management.

EU lawmakers added very light-weight plastic bags, polystyrene fast-food containers.

The soldiers added products made of oxo-degradable plastics, which critics say do not fully break down, to the list proposed by the EU executive earlier this year.

The EUs final rules still need to be approved in talks with member states. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN

Prof. Frank Onyezili, a senior lecturer with the Biological Sciences Department of the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, has committed suicide.

Sources close to the professor told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Wednesday in Makurdi that the deceased was found dead on Tuesday, Oct. 23.

Mrs. Roseline Waku, the Director of Protocol and Information of the university, who confirmed the incident, however told NAN that she was not aware of why Onyezili killed himself.

The only thing I can confirm is that the professor killed himself; I dont know why he did it, she said.

Waku hinted of reports that the deceased left a suicide note, but said that she was not privy to its contents.

A top official of the university told NAN that the the professor drank some substance suspected to be poison, after leaving a suicide note.

The source, which craved anonymity, said that the university dons action might not be unconnected with depression and loneliness that had been his lot since his wife and children relocated to a foreign country.

I am not sure why he killed himself, but he was always complaining of loneliness; his wife and children live abroad and have not been in touch with him. He might have opted to end his frustration by killing himself, the source said.

Contacted, Mr Moses Yamu, spokesman of the Police Command in Benue, told NAN that he had not been briefed on the matter.

I am yet to get details of the incident. That is all I can say for now, he said.

Source: NAN