Zimbabwe In A Limbo As Mugabe Exit Presidency

The decades-long grip on power of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe appeared to be over on Thursday as his main opposition rival returned to the country amid efforts to form a transitional government.

Morgan Tsvangirai, who had been receiving cancer treatment abroad, returned to Harare after Wednesday's military takeover, two sources with knowledge of his movements said.

One source, a senior member of Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) party, said talks were underway with military leaders about an administration that includes the opposition, with the tacit backing of key regional allies.

The source described the arrangement as a "a done deal," but there was no indication on Thursday that Mugabe plans to go quietly. The 93-year-old leader, who is under house arrest in Harare, has not made any public statement since the military seized control.

Mass Shooting At Las Vegas Music Festival

A day after the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history, authorities are learning more about Stephen Paddock, who fired into a crowd of thousands during a country music festival from a Las Vegas hotel suite, and the weapons he kept.

At least 59 people were killed and 527 were injured in the shooting that started late Sunday night. Police believe he killed himself, ending the massacre.

Police searched the gunman's home in Mesquite, Nevada, where they found at least 19 firearms, explosives, several thousand rounds of ammunition and some electronic devices.

In Paddock's 32nd-floor hotel suite at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, police recovered 23 weapons, including a handgun, and multiple rifles -- some had scopes on them. Authorities also found several pounds of ammonium nitrate, a material used to make explosives, in his car.

As police uncovered more evidence, they're still piecing together a motive.

There was no explanation on why Paddock, a 64-year-old retired accountant who had never faced any notable criminal charges, unleashed a hailstorm of bullets into concertgoers.

-- Paddock was alive when he made first contact with officers. A team of six officers spoke with security at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, where Paddock was staying, and searched the hotel floor-by-floor Sunday night before they found Paddock's suite, Clark County Sheriff Joseph Lombardo told reporters. Paddock had a large suite with two rooms, he said.

-- Paddock fired at the officers through the door and shot a security guard, Lombardo said. The guard was shot in the leg.

-- A SWAT team broke down the door, but Paddock had already killed himself, he said.

In the life-or-death situation, Dees said people were trying to take care of each other.

"It takes the worst of America to also see the best of America. Everybody was helping each other," he said.

Corrine Lomas also recalled the heroism of fellow concertgoers, risking their lives to save others as strangers pulled each other to hide and tended to the injured.

"A lot of really good people (were) holding people's wounds shut, trying to help them while everybody was just ducked down," she said.

"The firing went on forever," another witness Kimberly Chilcote said.

She and her husband ran in short bursts -- sprinting and hiding to avoid being targeted.

"There were purses and shoes everywhere ... there were bodies and blood," she said. "We just kept running."

Taylor Benge said he "could see a guy with a bullet wound right in his neck, motionless," several feet away. "From there on ... people just started dropping like flies."

Hundreds of Nevadans waited in long lines to give blood on Monday, to help victims of the shooting. US blood banks have enough blood to meet the immediate needs after the shooting, according to the chair of the AABB Interorganizational Task Force on Domestic Disasters and Acts of Terrorism, which assesses the need for blood collection after disasters.

People were also donating flights, housing, food, transportation and other goods to victims' family members who are coming to Las Vegas, said Chief Greg Cassell of the Clark County Nevada Fire Department.

Those looking for friends and family still missing after the attack can call 866-535-5654. Facebook has set up a crisis response page to help people determine whether their loved ones are safe.

D-PyrAmiDvision Top 10 Exterior Design Principles

It’s not just what it look like or how we feel like at 
D-PyrAmiDvision, we all want a spectacular home that stands out amongst the rest; we also want a home that blends with its surroundings and neighborhood.


Do you ever wonder what makes a home exterior visually appealing? Why are there certain homes on the street that make you stop in your tracks and gawk in awe of its beauty?  It is more than likely that those jaw-dropping homes have followed some key design principles.  Yes, every design, interior or exterior, needs to follow some simple “rules” of design in order for the final outcome to be visually appealing.

Let’s look at 10 basic exterior design principles that will help make your home a haven:

Follow these  basic design principles to achieve an amazing home exterior. Image Source: Vanbrouck
1) Balancing Shapes With Symmetry
Like in all types of design, balance and symmetry play an important role in achieving a well-designed space. The facade of every home needs some semblance of balance and symmetry in order to appear pleasing to the eye and properly designed.
Whether it is the eye-catching appeal of a symmetrical Georgian home, where the door is centered and the windows equally flank either side, or a home where the balance is achieved through pointed roof lines or dormers that are equally placed among the exterior.
There are numerous ways to achieve a proportional home exterior—some through obvious symmetry, while others are not as apparent. Either way, a properly designed home has  an exterior that is proportional and balanced.

A home exterior should be properly balanced. Image Source: Highmark-Builders
2) Form Follows Function
Louis Sullivan, Frank Lloyd Wright’s mentor, coined the phrase, form follows function. Essentially, this means that the purpose of the building should be the starting point of the design.
What is the purpose of your home? What do you plan to use your home for? Consider all your families needs and then decide what is required in your home in order to accommodate those needs.
The exterior of your home will mimic the form of the interior designs that you have chosen. Maybe you are an artist who chose large windows because you need natural lighting to paint/create. Maybe you needed a granny suite over the garage, so the exterior of the home has a dormer in order to make the window in that room look balanced. Always remember that your interior design affects the exterior one, as well.

The form of your interior design will always drive the exterior design. Image Source: Avalon CBG
 3) House Materials and Textures
With the plethora of options, it is very difficult to decide what materials we should use on our home exterior. Between cedar shingles, vinyl siding, aluminum, brick, wood, stucco, steel…how do we choose?
It is best to balance durability with aesthetics. Of course, you want the exterior of your home to reflect your personal style— are you a country guy/girl? Then you may want tumbled stone and cedar shingles. Are you a modern minimalist? Then you may prefer the lines of sleek steel or simple wood panels.
In order to avoid costly mistakes, it is always best to consult with a skilled design architect. There are also a lot of online visual tools that can help you see what your material choices will look like before you make that final financial investment.

This house is a nice mix of stone, stucco, roof tiles and wrought iron. Image Source: Steigerwald-Dougherty
4) Exterior Color Combinations
Oh, the cornucopia of color choices! How do you decide what is the right color for your home exterior? Do you go bold or basic? As in all decorating, color choice is vital—it can hide flaws or when done poorly, draw attention to flaws.
Sherwin Williams suggest that a safe and effective approach to color placement is to select two tints or shades from the same color strip a few shades apart. Either the lighter or the darker shade could be used for the body and the opposite for the trim. The a third contrasting accent color could punctuate the door.
Color can play up so many features of your home exterior. Paint your front porch a bright fresh white to draw the eye to the cozy entrance, or make your too-tall home look shorter with a dark color on top and a lighter color on bottom. The ways that color can trick the eye and play up the positive are endless!

Try choosing 3 colors or shades for your home exterior. Image Source: Sortun-Vos
5) How to Choose the Right Roof
A durable roof is imperative—choosing a roof for your home is more than just deciding upon color and aesthetics.
There are so many building options, with varying costs and life-expectancies.  Material like slate and tile may seem ideal but remember that they are very heavy, so be sure your home can carry the load.  Asphalt shingles seem to be most prevalent due to their lower cost and easy install. Surprisingly, wood is also a viable option with the same life expectancy ( 25 years) as asphalt shingles. Slate and metal are costly and heavy options, but may work for some designs.
While there are numerous choices, they do not all work within budgets and home design. Always consider cost, durability, weight, and what suits your homes style best.

Deciding upon roofing materials and color can be difficult. Image Source: Design Guild Homes
6) How to Choose Your Garage Doors
One may not think of a garage door as part of our homes style statement—but they would be wrong.  Door manufacturer, Wayne Dalton, suggests that buyers go through their online tutorial before choosing a garage door for their home.
Aside from design style, you need to gain knowledge in the doors insulating properties, safety features, material durability spring designs, warranties and cost.
Once you are past the nitty gritty of mechanics, then you can have fun deciding upon the style that best suits your home design.  Whether it’s a clean, classic  steel door or a cozy carriage house design—the options are endless.

Garage doors are a balance of form and function for the home exterior. Image Source: Witt Construction
7) What Windows Look Best
Just like garage doors, your homes windows are much more than functionality—windows are like the soul of your home, shining light onto all the moments shared within those four walls.  We can offer you numerous tips in choosing the right window style for your home.
First and foremost, the windows you choose need to be durable. Secondly, your windows should reflect your homes character. Modern homes look best with large expanses of  floor-to-ceiling windows, while a traditional home may look best with symmetrically placed, white-paned, rectangular windows.
Other factors to consider are: UV rating, privacy, proper ventilation, ease of cleaning and outdoor views. Consider all your options in order to open the soul of your home with durable and aesthetically appealing windows.

Windows look into the soul of your home. Image Source: DJ Architects
8) Design An Amazing Entryway
The most common question: What color should I paint my front door? As we touched upon above in the section titled, Color Combinations, choosing 2 shades or tints  from the same color strip is best for the main exterior trim and siding colors. Then a third color should be chosen for the front door.
You can go bold by adding a contrasting color that is opposite on the color wheel of your trim and siding colors, or you can choose a third lighter/darker shade that mimics the trim and siding.  In order to make your entry stand out , it is best to choose a darker or bolder shade than the rest of your home.
Aside from color, there are a lot of other features that can freshen up your entryway and speak to your homes style—lighting, plants, door knobs, door knocker, door kick plates, rugs, and porch seating all add to the  overall appeal of your homes entry.

Make your entryway amazing with pops of color and plants. Image Source: Dennis Allen Associates
9) Landscaping Is Essential
Landscaping your home involves much more than simply plunking a tree in your front yard.  Most often it is well-placed plants that add that jaw-dropping appeal to a home, making it stand out amongst the rest in the neighborhood.
It is difficult to know what plants to choose for your landscape, so we suggest researching local soils and native plants. Greenhouse staff are usually very knowledgeable in plant species; they know what works best locally, and they can even draft a landscape plan for your yard.
Get your green-thumb on and start planning your lush landscape today. Remember it takes time for plants to establish and fill in, so patience is a must. The sooner you begin, the better.

Landscaping is the final decorating touch for your home exterior. Image Source: Princetonscapes
10) Light Up Your Home
Don’t let your home fade into the darkness. Proper lighting is paramount for home safety and nighttime appeal. Aside from the obvious light fixtures that straddle your doorways and garage doors, there are other outdoor lights that should be placed around your home.
Choose lights that mimic your homes style. Traditional homes look great with lantern-style chandeliers hanging over a covered entryway, or flanking the garage.  Angular steel lights add appeal to the entryway of modern homes. Then you must consider what other features of your home could use some nighttime light.
The picture below  shows a well-lit home; there are lights on the rise of the stone steps that leads to the entry (adding a nice safety feature and visual appeal), pot lights under all the roof lines and lanterns flanking the garage.

Light up the night with exterior lighting for your home. Image Source: Stonewood
While the design of your home exterior is a complicated process that is fraught with decisions and choices, do not give up—a well-designed home CAN be achieved with patience and a little help. During the design process, we suggest that you follow all 10 tips offered here with regard to color, materials, form & function, balance & symmetry, lighting, doors, landscaping, windows and roofing.
Remember that there are a lot of online tools available that can show you a virtual picture of what your design could look like—it’s always best to see it and love it before you make the final financial investment.
What exterior materials are your favorite? Do you have any unique materials incorporated into your home exterior?

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@ D-PyrAmiDvision,Color is An integral Element of Our World

There's just something refreshing about D-PyrAmiDvision. We 're more connected now than any other time in history. Talk to us: @ D-PyrAmiDvision where we connect stunning colors inspired by other nations and cultures.

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 2017 Paint Colors Trends. ©Benjamin Moore
2017 color trends and forecasts include many dusky and cool colors, like Benjamin Moore's Shadow. The dark colors you'll see in 2017 are less formal and more romantic than in years past. There were a few bright exceptions to the moody colors of 2017, but those colors could pair very well with those darker colors.
Watching color trends and forecasts is an awesome way to find inspiration for your home. Colors are chosen each year by trendsetters, designers, and paint companies, to express a mood.
• 02of 10
 
 2017 Paint Color Trends. ©Benjamin Moore
Dark and dramatic, Benjamin Moore's Shadow is a bold choice for the 2017 Color of the Year. Rich colors like purple and dark blue are no longer considering only for formal dining rooms. Decorating trends have brought deep and moody colors like Shadow into living rooms, bedrooms, and even bathrooms. The versatility of dark colors may be what your home needs if you'd like to create a soothing space and are tired of neutral colors.  Deep colors look beautiful paired with the latest finishes.
• 03of 10

 
 2017 Paint Color Trends. ©Sherwin-Williams
Though Sherwin-Williams Poised Taupe may look like another gorgeous neutral color, it actually has a slight violet undertone that makes it more formal than other neutral colors. Taupe is a cool neutral that can pair beautifully with warm colors like dark brown and gold. The secret to using any taupe is sampling it on your walls before committing. Taupe is gorgeous and dramatic in any space, but the undertones can be tricky. A living room with soaring ceilings and white trim is the perfect spot.
• 04of 10


 2017 Paint Color Trends. ©Glidden
Byzantine Blue, Glidden's 2017 Color of the Year, is another soothing blue paint color that can work in any room. Accent Byzantine Blue with black and white for a contemporary style. This relaxing blue has a touch of violet undertone that gives it an unexpected glow that would be dramatic in your dining room or foyer. The violet in Byzantine Blue makes it a great color to pair with gray, unlike many blue paint colors that can become bright when set against cool neutral colors.
Though Byzantine.
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 2017 Paint Color Trends. ©PPG/Olympic Paints and Stains
Purple and lavender paint colors have emerged as new options for decorating. The new purple shades are light and very versatile thanks to their muted undertones. Olympic Paints Cloudberry can be used in place of any cool neutral if you're craving more color than the many gray paint colors that are popular right now. To use Cloudberry right, you'll want to avoid treating it like a lavender or other sweet pastel. Pair this comfortable color with accents like cream, charcoal gray, and even.
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 2017 Paint Color Trends. ©Dunn Edwards
Honey Glow, Dunn-Edwards 2017 Color of the Year, is an absolutely gorgeous gold paint color. Gold paint can be a difficult thing to choose because it can overwhelm a room if you get the undertone wrong, or choose a too-bright shade. Honey Glow is a rare gold color that is muted just enough to be very versatile, and an attractive undertone that is neither too orange or too green.
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 2017 Paint Color Trends. ©Valspar
 Valspar's 2017 Color of the Year, Crushed Oregano is a bold choice in a year of muted and neutral paint colors. Crushed Oregano is a warm green with a lot of yellow undertone which makes it an excellent choice for kitchens or any room where you'd like to add energy and light. Keep your accents simple with Crushed Oregano with colors like white, brown, and gold. Cool colors like a soft turquoise or pink can add some softness to tone down Crushed Oregano in a living room or guest room.
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 2017 Color Trends. ©Dulux
Dulux Paint is well-known all over the world. The Dulux 2017 Color of the Year, Denim Drift is sophisticated and worldly. This soft color is moody gray with a hint of blue that would be a soothing choice for a bedroom, but could also be wonderful in a contemporary living room. The blue in Denim Drift is so muted that it is nearly neutral and can be treated as a gray paint color in most rooms. Pair Denim Drift with off white and muted pastels for a dreamy look in any room.
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 Paint Color Trends 2017. ©HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Natural Wonder is a paint color collection for 2017. Natural Wonder is is filled with soothing neutral paint colors and bold earth tones. The collection is designed to be easily coordinated with any color in this twenty-color palette. Eight trending paint colors are included in this easy to use collection. Instead of choosing just one paint color for 2017, HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams makes decorating and choosing paint easier with a fully coordinated palette. A.
• 10of 10


 Color Trends for 2017. ©MasterBrand/Decora
Pantone Color of the Year is an important forecast to watch when you're choosing colors for your home, even though it's not technically a paint color. Greenery is Pantone's 2017 Color of the Year. This fresh and warm green represents nature and renewal. If you absolutely love Pantone's Greenery and would like to add it as a painted accent, there are paint colors that capture its refreshing mood.

D-PyrAmiDvision KITCHEN DESIGN FOR 2017

 D-PyrAmiDvision TOP 10 KITCHEN DESIGN TRENDS FOR 2017

Looking for some great ideas for your home? Talk to us @ D-PyrAmiDvision.

We plowed into popular interior and exterior designed photos and articles, and talked to industry leaders for things we think you’ll be seeing more of in home in 2017.

Kitchen design trends have dramatically changed over the years due to technology, the introduction of new materials, and design becoming more and more important in everyday life. The kitchen for many is also the central point of a home where all household members come together. It is also typically the room that sees the most traffic, so when consumers are looking for a new home, the kitchen is typically a large factor when deciding if the home is right for them or not. And it is important to look at the current trends in kitchens, especially when planning to sell the home in the near future.

Brass finishes have been making a comeback in in recent years, cherished for their ability to bring shiny golden tones to space without the high price tag. It also looks amazing against almost any color of the rainbow. In 2017 – 2018, we’ll continue to see room with satin brass for some time and also possible mixed with other finishes color for a more eclectic look or brushed brass, which is more muted and warm.

 

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Nigeria Looters Float US Banks With Money

1. Okorocha JP Morgan chase/ New York. $1.4 billion
2. Kwankwaso. American express/New York $1.15 billion
3. Shettima. Wells Fargo/ San Francisco. $1.1 billion4. Nyako. Citi group/ New York city. $805 million
5. Ibrahim. Citi group/ New York city. $798 million
7. Amaechi. US Bancorp/ Minnesota. $757 million
8. Abdulaziz. Ally financial/ Detroit. $626 million
9. Oshiomole BB&T/ North Carolina. $625 million
10. Aregbesola. Citi group/ new York. $513 million
11. Al-makura. State street corporation & $510 million
12. Wamakko. Wells Fargo/ San Francisco. $476 million
13. Fashola. Citi group/ New York $448 million
14. Amosun Bank of America. $442 million
15. Ahmed. US Bancorp. $437 million
16. Ajimobi. Ally financial. $422 million
Obasanjo, Tinubu, Atiku, Sylvia, IBB, Jega, Maina, Oransanye, Lamido, Talba, Alamesiya, Adamu Muazu are in the next batch coming up shortly.

Tunisia as Court Forces 13-Year-Old Girl To Marry Brother-in-law

A 13-year-old Tunisian girl who was impregnated by a 20-year-old relative has been forced to marry him after it was approved by a court.

The court gave the green light for the relative to wed the victim on 13 December, sparking public outrage.

The ceremony between the girl, who comes from the northwestern city of Kef, and her brother-in-law took place in front of their parents, despite attempts to stop it. 

The age of sexual consent in Tunisia is 18. However, article 227 of the Tunisian penal code stipulates that sex with a female under 15 is punishable by six years imprisonment if it is carried out "without violence". However, the perpetrator can stop the prosecution by marrying the victim.

"We interviewed the girl and after verifying all the details, we considered her fit for marriage," Mejri was quoted as saying by Le Parisien.

"When it's a 13-year-old child, we can't talk of a sexual relation with consent. It's a rape," said Houda Abboudi, a spokesperson for the agency. "The court's decision didn't take into account the interests of this child… who will marry her rapist."

Non-governmental organisations hit out at the decision and issued a joint statement condemning the approval of a marriage between "a 13-year-old child and her rapist".

However, one judge who did not wished to be named said: "In that particular case, the judge was simply abiding the law, which is definitely an antiquated law."

They added: "Tunisia was one of the first countries in the region to ratify international treaties that guarantee the rights of children. However, this law was never amended. It's up to the judge to decide whether to apply it or not."

"At 13-years-old, one cannot give free and enlightened judgement – especially since there is no sex education at school," said Monia Ben Jemia, the head of the rights group.