Two-day delay in admitting Texas Ebola patient

Chicago/New York - The first patient to be diagnosed with Ebola in a US hospital was evaluated initially and turned away, a critical missed opportunity that could result in others being exposed to the deadly virus, infectious disease experts said.

Reuters reported that the man had travelled to Dallas via Brussels.The man is said to be in a serious condition.

On the patient's first visit to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas last Friday, he walked into the hospital presenting "non-specific symptoms" and was sent home with a prescription for antibiotics, Edward Goodman, an infectious disease specialist at the hospital, told a news conference on Tuesday.

On the second visit two days later, the patient, who has not been identified, arrived by ambulance, potentially putting at risk the emergency responders who transported the patient that Sunday. They have been quarantined, but so far have tested negative for the virus.

For months, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been warning

`What are we celebrating when Chibok girls are still in captive?’

A cross section of Nigerians on Wednesday said Nigeria’s 54th Independence anniversary was worth celebrating because “we are still a united nation’’ in spite of the numerous challenges.

Other citizens, however, said that the atmosphere was not ripe for celebration due to insurgency in parts of the country and the Chibok girls, among other challenges.

A PDP member in Kogi, Mr Adelodun Obaseki, said in Lokoja that “Nigerians have every reason to celebrate as in spite of all odds, God has always been by our side’’.

Obaseki pointed out the level of developments that the country had experienced in the last few decades as some of the reasons for celebration.

He noted that the PDP had proved itself to be a party that all Nigerians should embrace through its infrastructural developments in all aspects of national life through the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Another resident, Mr Salaudeen Mohammed, however, said that there was need for sobriety

ISIS closes in on Kurdish town in Syria

   Turkish soldiers and tanks took up position along the border with Syria on Tuesday as its government debated whether to deploy troops to battle the Islamic State terror group, a move that comes as tens of thousands pour into the country to escape ISIS fighters.

The flood of refugees from Syria has escalated — with 150,000 people fleeing to Turkey in recent days — as ISIS fighters armed with tanks and heavy weapons advance on the predominantly Kurdish town of Kobani, known in Arabic as Ayn al Arab, destroying villages in their path.

   ISIS fighters were just three kilometers (nearly two miles) east of the northern Syria town late Monday, a civilian in Kobani told CNN on condition of anonymity. CNN cannot independently confirm the claim, though it matches reports released by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group.

Three Boko Haram members jailed 25 years each for terrorism

After a prolonged trial conducted privately, Justice Ibrahim Buba of a Federal High Court in Lagos, on Tuesday, sentenced three alleged Boko Haram members to 25 years imprisonment each, for acts of terrorism.

The three convicts were among 17 accused persons earlier charged before the court on November 27, 2013.

The accused persons are Ali Mohammed, Adamu Karumi, Ibrahim Usman, Bala Haruna, Idris Ali, Mohammed Murtala, Kadiri Mohammed, Mustapha Daura, Abba Duguri, Sanni Adamu, Danjuma Yahaya, and Musa Audu.

Others are Mati Daura, Farouk Haruna, Abdullahi Azeez, Ibrahim Bukar and Zula Diani.

Boks v All Blacks sold out

Saturday's Rugby Championship Test between the Springboks and All Blacks at Ellis Park in Johannesburg has been sold out.

The Golden Lions Rugby Union on Wednesday announced via their official website that the stadium will be at maximum capacity, with all 62 000 tickets sold out.

Golden Lions CEO Rudolf Straeuli was thrilled with the uptake of tickets.

“It is wonderful for us to once again fill Ellis Park for this encounter,” said Straeuli.

“We are looking forward to successfully hosting rugby supporters from far and wide on Saturday and

2015: Igbos didn’t have the proper vehicle to vie for president – Ohaneze

THE national leadership of the apex Igbo socio –cultural organization, the Ohaneze Ndigbo said yesterday in Awka that it had not endorsed any aspirant for the 2015 presidential election.

National president of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Gary Enwo-Igariwey said at a briefing in Awka, Anambra State, that the organization would not endorse anybody without adequate consultation with the stakeholders, including Ime Obi (the Igbo Think Tank) and the South

Egypt court jails 68 pro-Morsi protesters

An Egyptian court has sentenced 68 people to up to 15 years in prison over protest clashes, in the latest mass sentencing of Muslim Brotherhood supporters.

They were accused of taking part in street violence in October 2013 in which more than 50 demonstrators were shot dead in Cairo during clashes with police.

The Cairo court handed down 15-year sentences to 63 defendants and 10 years to five others, judicial sources and state media said.

Police have cracked down harshly on supporters of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi since his ouster by the military in July 2013, killing hundreds in clashes and arresting