Burkina Faso leader refuses to quit

Burkina Faso's army has announced the dissolution of the government following violent protests. Source: AAP

BURKINA Faso's President Blaise Compaore has refused to give up power, but called off a state of emergency imposed after a violent uprising against his 27-year rule that saw parliament set ablaze.

OPPOSITION figures said around 30 people had been killed and 100 injured as tens of thousands took to the streets in protest against plans to allow Compaore to extend his long reign.

Hundreds stormed parliament and other public buildings, including the national television headquarters in the capital Ougadougou, on Thursday, ransacking offices and setting fire to cars despite a heavy police and army presence.

Compaore initially called a state of emergency, but appeared on television just a few hours later to say it had been called off.

"I have heard the message," the president said.

But he refused to step down, saying instead that he was "available" for talks on "a period of transition after which power will be transferred to a democratically elected president".

It remained unclear on Thursday night who was in charge of the country.

Earlier in the day, the army had announced it was seizing power and putting in place a transitional government.

It imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew and pledged to restore constitutional order within 12 months.

The communique, read out by an officer, was signed by the army chief of staff Nabere Honore Traore.

A leading opposition member, Benewende Sankara, described the army's move as a "coup". He also said protesters would accept nothing less than the president's immediate resignation.

Compaore "is again in the process of duping the people", said Sankara. "We have been saying for a long time that he must hand in his resignation. His departure is non-negotiable."

Sankara and another opposition leader gave the death toll from the violence as "around 30". AFP was only able to confirm four deaths and six seriously injured, based partly on reports from the capital's main hospital.

The US said it was "deeply concerned" about the crisis in the west African nation and criticised Compaore's attempts to alter the constitution to extend his rule. Former colonial power France appealed for calm and said it "deplored" the violence.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon dispatched a special envoy to help restore calm and the European Union called for an end to the violence.

Many of the tens of thousands massed on the streets of the capital called for a retired general and former defence minister, Kouame Lougue, to take control, shouting "Lougue in power!"

There were reports that army chief Traore had met with Lougue earlier in the day to discuss the crisis.

Black smoke billowed out of smashed windows at the parliament building on Thursday, where several offices were ravaged by flames.

Several hundred protesters also broke into the headquarters of the national television station RTB, pillaging equipment and smashing cars, AFP correspondents said.

The ruling party headquarters in the second city of Bobo Dioulasso and the city hall were also torched by protesters, witnesses said.

Compaore's bid to cling to power has angered many, particularly young people, in a country where 60 per cent of the population of almost 17 million is under 25.

Many have spent their entire lives under the leadership of one man and, with Burkina Faso stagnating at 183rd out of 186 countries on the UN human development index, many have had enough.

Teen’s Present From Dad Turns Her Into Multimillionaire on 19th Birthday

A very happy birthday, indeed!

When Deisi Ocampo woke up on her birthday on Oct. 6, she had no idea the gift her father had given her would soon make her a multi-millionaire.

“I rarely play the lottery,” Ocampo, 19, of Chicago, wrote to ABC News. “My dad buys tickets once in a while and thought it would fun to get me two tickets for my birthday.”

The following day, she didn’t think much of it when she scratched off the first set of numbers. But when she finished scratching the second ticket, “I began to shake and sweat out of nervousness,” she said. “I just couldn’t believe it was real.”

The birthday girl had won $4 million dollars.

She called her father, who needless to say, was equally stunned.

“He couldn’t believe it,” Ocampo explained of her dad’s reaction. “He thought I was teasing him. When I told him I had won, he asked if it was $500, and I said, ‘No $4 million!’”

But the newfound millionaire isn’t letting the money go to her head. She plans to continue working at a clothing store because her family "is humble and believes in a strong work ethic."

As for how Ocampo plans to spend the new earnings, she's being reasonable about that, as well.

“I will share with my dad so he can buy a new home for my mom, dad and sister,” she said. “I plan to use a portion to pay for college since I want to become a nurse and take care of babies.”

When asked if this was the best birthday she’s ever had, Ocampo simply replied, “Definitely!”

Father of 12 Sons Jay Schwandt: 'I'd Really Like a Girl'

A Michigan couple with 12 sons ranging in age from 22 years to 15 months will have another shot to bring a girl into their family this May, but whether they succeed will not be known until the baby is born.

“That’s kind of what gets my wife through the delivery process, the excitement and suspense,” Jay Schwandt told ABC News, referring to the rule enforced by his wife, Kateri, to keep the gender a surprise.

“I try every time to have me find out and not tell her, but that never flies,” he said. “It’s not worth even asking anymore.”

Schwandt, the owner of a commercial real estate company near the family’s Rockford, Mich., home, says he and his wife are also divided when it comes to their preferences for what the gender of their 13th child will be.

“My wife is pulling for another boy because that’s in her comfort zone,” he said. “I’m pulling for a girl.”

“Introducing a little girl to the family would certainly change things up,” Schwandt said.

“I’ve got all the boy stuff a dad could ever imagine – sports, hunting," he said. "As long as we’re raising all these children it would be neat to see what the other end of the spectrum is like, maybe cheerleading and the father-daughter dance."

The Schwandts, both 40, already have one college graduate in the family, as well as one current college student, two high schoolers and six elementary school students.

Their 13th child is due May 9.

The 12 Schwandt boys are, according to their dad, pretty “convinced” their new sibling will be another boy. The siblings are split right down the middle, though, as to whether they would prefer a new sister or another brother.

“Our house is all boy right now,” he said.

When asked what he would do if he had a girl who ended up being a tomboy, Schwandt appeared to have thought through that scenario already.

“I assume that’s how it would end up,” Schwandt said. “If it is a girl, I’d imagine she’d fit right in with the boys, with the rough housing and everything that goes on in our place.”

There is hope for Schwandt, however, if his wife gives birth to another boy next May.

"We don’t know that for sure," he said when asked if this would be the family's last child. "We feel like we wouldn’t have this many children if we couldn’t handle it."

"As long as they're all healthy and there’s no red flags, it is what it is."

Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Gareth Bale make Ballon d'Or 23-man shortlist

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi have been named among the 23 players in contention for this year's Ballon d'Or.

Ronaldo, who is the current holder of the prestigious award, and Messi, who has won the gong four times in his career, are expected to be included in the final three prior to the announcement in January.

Gareth Bale, who is in his second season at Real Madrid, has also been named in the 23-man party among Premier League stars Diego Costa, Angel di Maria, Eden Hazard, Yaya Toure and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

World champions Germany are the most represented nation in the list with six entries, including Mario Gotze, Thomas Muller and Toni Kroos.

Colombian James Rodriguez, whose performance at the World Cup in Brazil earned him a summer move to Real Madrid, is also in contention for the award, along with Barcelona star Neymar and Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba.

Barcelona's Luis Suarez, who was named PFA Player of the Year last season during his prolific stint at Liverpool, has not been included in the list, while there is also no place for Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero.

The FIFA Football Committee and France Football teamed together to choose the shortlist.

Ballon d'Or shortlist

Gareth Bale (Wales, Real Madrid)
Karim Benzema (France, Real Madrid)
Diego Costa (Spain, Chelsea)
Thibaut Courtois (Belgium, Chelsea)
Angel Di Maria (Argentina, Manchester United)
Mario Gotze (Germany, Bayern Munich)
Eden Hazard (Belgium, Chelsea)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden, Paris Saint-Germain)
Andres Iniesta (Spain, Barcelona)
Toni Kroos (Germany, Real Madrid)
Philipp Lahm (Germany, Bayern Munich)
Javier Mascherano (Argentina, Barcelona)
Lionel Messi (Argentina, Barcelona)
Thomas Muller (Germany, Bayern Munich)
Manuel Neuer (Germany, Bayern Munich)
Neymar (Brazil, Barcelona)
Paul Pogba (France, Juventus)
Sergio Ramos (Spain, Real Madrid)
Arjen Robben (Netherlands, Bayern Munich)
James Rodriguez (Colombia, Real Madrid)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Real Madrid)
Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany, Bayern Munich)
Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast, Manchester City)

Nigerian Soldiers Arrested For Working As Spies For Boko Haram

Soldiers in Nigeria’s military may be working as moles for Boko Haram, giving the terrorist group vital information about the military’s strategies and tactics.

News site, AllAfrica.com, reports that the nation’s military has arrested those soldiers it suspected were working as double agents for Boko Haram.

“It was gathered that the alleged moles among the soldiers leaked the information on the deployment of soldiers from Maimalari Barracks in April this year to the terrorists, which led to an ambush and killing of so many soldiers of the 101 Battalion”, the news site explained.

Military commanders are putting the pieces together and revisiting all the incidents in which Boko Haram succeeded because it might have had intelligence about secret operations.

For instance, a Nigerian fighter jet was downed in early September and Boko Haram said it shot it down.Military officials suspect that a spy told Boko Haram about the plane’s departure plans.

A source, who preferred to speak on condition of anonymity, explained to AllAfrica.com that the initial suspicion that there might be spies lurking in Nigeria’s military caused a lot of confusion and mistrust among those in the higher ranks.

“The situation became so bad that there was mutual suspicion among fellow commanders, the brigade headquarters and even the division headquarters. But at last, the moles were found out to be some of the orderlies and aides of commanders”, the source said.

“What they do is that after operational briefings and troops take off, these moles immediately pass on the information through calls”, the source continued.

The suspected soldiers will be charged with criminal conspiracy and possibly other crimes.The Nigerian military is still conducting investigations to flush out more spies.