South Africa marks one year since death of Mandela

South Africa marked the one-year death anniversary of Nelson Mandela with cricket, blasting vuvuzelas and other tributes from a long list of admirers of the global icon of hope.

PRETORIA: South Africans on Friday (Dec 5) marked one year since the death of Nelson Mandela with services, blasting vuvuzelas and a cricket match to honour his enormous legacy as an anti-apartheid icon and global beacon of hope.

An interfaith service kicked off the day's events in Pretoria, at the Freedom Park amphitheatre dedicated to the country's liberation heroes. "Twenty years of democracy has been possible because of Mandela," tribal chief Ron Martin said as the sun rose over the Pretoria hills and the smell of herbs burning in spiralled antelope horns wafted over the ceremony.

"Any sense of pride was frowned upon by apartheid," he said, "but we are reclaiming that today." Veterans of the anti-apartheid struggle attended a wreath-laying ceremony at the base of a 5m statue of a smiling Madiba, the clan name by which South Africans affectionately call their nation's favourite son.

"The body gave in but Madiba's spirit never, never changed, it was always the same until the end," Mandela's widow Graca Machel said before laying a huge wreath of white flowers with pale pink roses at the base of the statue. She then joined hands with members of Mandela's family for a prayer.

"Madiba is, in spirit, the same even today," said Mrs Machel. "I know Madiba is smiling, Madiba is happy because he is amongst the family he chose to build." She was "numb" when her husband died, but said she now remembers him as "tall and proud."

During the service, bells tolled for three minutes and seven seconds - followed by three minutes of silence: a six-minute and seven-second dedication to Mandela's 67 years of public service. His old comrade, Ahmed Kathrada, imprisoned with him on Robben Island, also paid tribute to his "elder brother".

"I miss him not only as a political leader, I miss him as an elder brother," said Mr Kathrada, his voice shaking. "When Madiba died, I asked who should I turn to, I am still looking to somebody."

A long list of other events dedicated to Mandela were set to take place into the weekend and beyond, including motorcycle rides and performances. South Africans were also finding their own ways of remembering the former president who led the country out of the dark days of apartheid after 27 years in prison. Tattoo studios for example have reported an ever-growing demand for Mandela-inspired ink.

Fellow Nobel Peace Prize laureate Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu called on South Africans to emulate Mandela's example in a statement to mark the anniversary. "Our obligation to Madiba is to continue to build the society he envisaged, to follow his example," Mr Tutu said. "A society founded on human rights, in which all can share in the rich bounty God bestowed on our country. In which all can live in dignity, together. A society of better tomorrows for all."

MOTORBIKES FOR MANDELAThe iconic leader passed away at the age of 95 last year after a long illness. Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa led the three-minute silence in the morning, followed by a friendly cricket match, dubbed the Mandela Legacy Cup, between South Africa's national rugby and cricket teams.

At the weekend, artists and performers will hold centre stage at the Nelson Mandela Foundation, which has launched an exhibition in honour of the life and work of its namesake. Motorcyclists across the country have also been called on to dedicate their traditional Sunday morning rides to the anti-apartheid hero. A 5km Nelson Mandela Remembrance Walk will be held in Pretoria on Dec 13, passing some of the city's historic landmarks, including the Union Buildings, South Africa's seat of government. The next day, the city's inaugural marathon will dedicate its last mile to Madiba.

Mandela's death was met with a worldwide outpouring of grief. He set South Africa on a course towards reconciliation after he emerged unbowed from nearly three decades in prison in 1990 and became the country's first president to be elected by universal suffrage in 1994.

His one-time jailer FW de Klerk, who shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Mandela in 1993, called on South Africans to honour his legacy. "Although Nelson Mandela is no longer physically with us his legacy remains to guide us," he said in a statement.

FDA cautions Ghanaians about unwholesome foods as Christmas approaches

Consumers must endeavour to ascertain the expiry dates of products before they purchase them to avoid the consumption of unwholesome products.

Mr Matthew Gyang Nkum, Brong-Ahafo Regional Director of Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), who gave the advice in an interview with Ghana News Agency (GNA), in Sunyani, said a lot of expired goods; especially food items, flood the market towards Christmas.

Mr Nkum observed that such unwholesome products, particularly drinkables and ready to eat foods, enter the market through unapproved routes before and during the Christmas festivity.

When these foods are consumed, he said, they could cause infections, poisoning and other health impairments.

He said some shop owners save their unsold food products mainly patronised on festive occasions like Christmas, for the following occasion, explaining that improper storage conditions could destroy the content of the product.

Mr Nkum stressed the importance of food storage, saying that food items exposed directly to sunlight and rain should not be patronised even if their prices are reduced drastically because they could be contaminated.

He, therefore, advised consumers that besides checking the expiry dates of products, they should check the packaging for freshness, bloating, rust, leakage and the instructions on the label, and reject labels that are not written in English.

All products must be labelled in English language in conformity with the nation’s law on products certification to prevent fake products from entering the market, he said.

Mr Nkum entreated store owners to separate edible items from inedible ones because edible foods could easily be contaminated by other harmful products.

Shop operators should also ensure cleanliness in their shops to prevent rodents and insects from entering to contaminate their goods, he said.

He gave the assurance that the FDA would use all possible means to ensure that only wholesome goods are sold to protect and guarantee the safety of consumers.

Mr Nkum warned that sellers and shop owners arrested with unwholesome goods would have their products destroyed and could also be prosecuted.

Ghanaians have no sympathy for suicide victims – Psychologist

Dr Joseph Osafo, Lecturer, Department of Psychology, University of Ghana, says Ghanaians lack sympathy for suicide victims.

He said generally these people did not usually want to die but want to alert those around them that something is seriously wrong with them and often try to draw the attention of people around them to their plight. However, Dr Osafo said, in Ghana their threats of ending their lives were often met with, “if you want to end your life, who cares?”

Dr Osafo said this in Accra during the climax of the Plan Parenthood Association of Ghana’s (PPAG) Youth Action Movement (YAM) MYX six-week project.

The YAM MYX Project aims at ensuring access to information and service for young people with special needs and in restricted environment.

It provides free comprehensive counseling, sexual and reproductive health information and medical services to young people of the Osu Remand Home.

He said anyone was capable of being a suicide victim and urged Ghanaians to pay attention to people who threaten to end their lives and take them to counselors such as pastors for help.

Dr Osafo said the reasons people commit suicide were depression, perceived failure in life, hearing of voices or satanic influences, parental neglect and image problem.

Others are bedwetting, breakup in relations, committing abominable acts, poverty and financial problems, and witchcraft accusations.

Dr Osafo mentioned that people trying to commit suicide usually exhibit symptoms such as sleepless nights, giving out their previous belongings, restless behaviours, unwarranted searching and withdrawals.

He said some people in an attempt to commit suicide survived but had to live with the injuries they had inflicted on themselves.

He urged Ghanaians not condemn or insult suicide victims but rather sympathy with them, and help them to come out of their predicament.

Mr Peter Tweneboa-Kodua, Deputy Director, Department of Social Welfare, urged parents to treat their children well, so that in their old age, the children would be willing to give them the needed support.

Mr Michael Tagoe, PPAG Project Officer and Public Relations Consultant, called on Ghanaians to desist from stigmatizing children living in remand homes and other people living in restricted areas.

Ms Vida Adjei, a student of South Labone Girls Vocational Training Centre and a beneficiary of the YAM MYX project expressed her gratitude to PPAG for the programme, which according to her, had empowered them to have high self-esteem of themselves.

UNCEF data shows 1.1 million HIV child infection averted

An estimated 1.1 million HIV infections among children under 15 have been averted, as new cases declined by over 50 per cent between 2005 and 2013, according to data released by UNICEF ahead of World AIDS Day which falls December 1, each year.

According to a statement from UNICEF to the Ghana News Agency on Tuesday in Accra, this extraordinary progress is the result of expanding the access of millions of pregnant women living with HIV to services for the prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT), including lifelong HIV treatment that markedly reduces the transmission of the virus to babies and keeps their mothers alive and well.

The statement said, “if we can avert 1.1 million new HIV infections in children, we can protect every child from HIV – but only if we reach every child.”

According to the statement, Anthony Lake, Executive Director for UNICEF said “We must close the gap, and invest more in reaching every mother, every newborn, every child and every adolescent with HIV prevention and treatment programmes that can save and improve their lives.”

The sharpest declines took place between 2009 and 2013 in eight African countries: Malawi (67%); Ethiopia (57%); Zimbabwe (57%); Botswana (57%); Namibia (57%); Mozambique (57%); South Africa (52%) and Ghana (50%).

It said the global goal of reducing new HIV infections in children by 90 per cent between 2009 and 2015 is still out of reach. Only 67 per cent of pregnant women living with HIV in all low- and middle-income countries received the most effective antiretroviral medicines for PMTCT in 2013.

Disparity in access to treatment is hampering progress. Among people living with HIV in low- and middle-income countries, adults are much more likely than children to get antiretroviral therapy (ART). In 2013, 37 per cent of adults aged 15 and older received treatment, compared with only 23 per cent of children (aged 0-14) – or less than 1 in 4.

AIDS mortality trends for adolescents are also of significant concern. While all other age groups have experienced a decline of nearly 40 per cent in AIDS-related deaths between 2005 and 2013, adolescents (aged 10-19) are the only age group in which AIDS-related deaths are not decreasing.

It said that UNICEF’s Statistical Update on Children, Adolescents and AIDS provides the most recent analysis of global data on children and adolescents from birth to 19 years of age

Photos: Alex Okosi, Waje, Dakore, others gather for Shuga launch

Let me start with pics of this fine man. I hear he's still not married. All you Lagos girls be slacking anyhow...lol.
Anyway, The MTV Staying Alive Foundation and MTV Base have revealed that they are creating a new season of Shuga. The award-winning sex and relationships drama and multimedia campaign, now in its fourth season, will kick off in Nigeria in early 2015, in partnership with NACA, PEPFAR, and The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The launch, which held yesterday, Tuesday, December 2, 2014 at the Villa Medici Restaurant had guests from the media, music and film industries. See the pics after the cut..

Mario Balotelli's Controversial Instagram Post Prompts League Investigation

Italian soccer star Mario Balotelli is in trouble with football authorities after posting a racist picture to Instagram.

Balotelli, who currently plays for Liverpool in the English Football Association, seems to have intended the racist image to convey an anti-racist message. But it was poorly received and sparked an outcry.

The original post: Balotelli initially defended the post. "My Mom is jewish so all of u shut up please," he wrote in a response. But pressure continued to mount, and he took down the image after about 15 minutes.

Later, he posted this reply:

Balotelli may recognize the error of his ways, but that doesn't mean his problems stemming from the post are over. The post is a violation of the English Football Association's social media guidelines for players, and the league has launched an investigation into the matter.

Balotelli has until Friday to respond to the league's inquiry, but he could be facing a minimum five-game suspension.

The Professional Footballers' Association also weighed in on the matter.

"The situation regarding Mario Balotelli's Instagram post... highlights how vigilant players need to be in all of their dealings with social media," said the PFA in a statement.

Pics: See what drinking Coke everyday for 30 days did to this man

Me that I am a Coke drinker. No wonder I no longer have a flat tummy..choi! Lol. 50 year old George Prior wanted to show what drinking too much soda does to the body and used himself as experiment. The result is scary.

George said he drank 10 cans of Coca Cola a day for 30 days to see how the sugar content will affect his physical health. It did! He gained over 20 pounds in that one month...mostly in his stomach area. Above is the before and after photos. He documented it all on his website, 10 Cokes A Day.

Coming soon: An atomic clock that can fit in your pocket

Knowing what time it is down to the very last sliver of a second is easy but only if you happen to have an atomic clock in your pocket. Unfortunately, most such devices wouldn't fit. In fact, there probably wouldn't even be room in the average studio apartment. But all that may be about to change.

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are developing what they say is a highly accurate atomic clock the size of a Rubik's cube, measuring about 2 inches in each dimension. The clock could one day be used to keep time in places where conventional clocks, like the ones on a cell phone, don't work like underwater or in war zones, where signal jamming limits connectivity to satellite networks the researchers said.

Like other atomic clocks, the MIT prototype keeps time by measuring the natural vibration, or oscillation, of cesium atoms in a vacuum. All atoms oscillate at a particular frequency when they move between two energy levels, but since the 1960s, cesium's frequency has been used to define the length of one second. Essentially, one second equals 9,192,631,770 oscillations of a cesium atom. [Wacky Physics: The Coolest Little Particles in Nature]

To keep track of cesium's oscillations, scientists typically use what's known as a fountain clock: a huge tabletop covered in wires and high-tech equipment that looks nothing at all like the clock on your kitchen wall. Resembling a fountain spewing water at the sky, the clock tosses small clouds of cesium atoms several feet into the air and then keeps track of how many times they oscillate, or move up and down, through a microwave beam.

It takes a big clock to keep track of more than 9 billion oscillations. So, to shrink one of these oversized instruments, the researchers decided to measure fewer oscillations at a time 10-milliseconds' worth, to be exact. By multiplying the number of oscillations that occur in 10 milliseconds by 100, the researchers can estimate how many oscillations would occur in a full second. They also changed the beam that the atoms are moving through from a microwave beam to a laser beam, which is easier to control in a small space.

With these modifications, the MIT team was able to make its fountain clock much more compact than, say, the NIST-F2 the cesium fountain atomic clock that serves as America's master clock at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Boulder, Colorado. However, MIT's miniaturized atomic clock isn't nearly as accurate as the NIST-F2, which can keep time without losing or gaining a single second for 300 million years.

"That's fine, because we're not trying to make the world's standard we're trying to make something that would fit in, say, a Rubik's cube, and be stable over a day or a week," Krish Kotru, a graduate student in MIT's Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics and co-author of a new paper outlining the clock project, said in a statement.

If the researchers can shrink their clock down to a portable size, it can be used in places where cell phones, which also run on atomic time, won't work. Submarine crews or deep-sea divers may even be able to use these highly accurate clocks underwater. Furthermore, soldiers on the battlefield could use the devices even if satellite signals are jammed, the researchers said.

There are other miniaturized versions of these clocks, known as chip-size atomic clocks (CSACs), already on the market. CSACs, which are about the size of a matchbox, solve the portability problem, but they sacrifice a lot of the preciseness of conventional atomic clocks, according to the researchers.

"We have a path toward making a compact, robust clock that's better than CSACs by a couple of orders of magnitude, and more stable over longer periods of time," Kotru said. "Additional miniaturization could ultimately result in a handheld device with stability [that is] orders of magnitude better than compact atomic clocks available today."

To test the alleged robustness of their new clock, the team simulated carrying the device over rugged terrain by moving the clock's laser beam from side to side as it probed the cloud of cesium atoms. But even with its laser beam shaking around, the clock still kept time accurately, according to the researchers.

Lets say one day we got it small enough so you could put it in your backpack, or in your vehicle, said Kotru. Having it be able to operate while youre moving across the ground is important.

Such a device, he added, could take on more high-tech applications, such as synchronizing telecommunications networks.

Copyright 2014 LiveScience, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Burkina Faso names army colonel Zida as prime minister

(Reuters) - Burkina Faso's transitional government named Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Zida as prime minister on Wednesday, four days after he restored the country's constitution under pressure from the African Union and the West.

Zida declared himself head of state on Nov. 1 after mass protests toppled President Blaise Compaore who then fled the West African country. The African Union gave Zida two weeks to restore civilian rule or face economic sanctions.

As prime minister, Zida, a large, bespectacled man with a trademark red beret, will help Burkina Faso's newly appointed interim president, Michel Kafando, to appoint a 25-member government that will steer the country to new elections in 2015.

Neither Kafando, a former foreign minister and ambassador to the United Nations, nor Zida will be allowed to take part in next year's presidential election.

Compaore triggered the protests against his rule last month when he tried to change the constitution and extend his 27-year grip on power.

Compaore was a regional power broker and a key Western ally against Islamist militants. France has a special forces unit based in Burkina Faso as part of a regional counter-terrorism operation. The country has long been one of Africa's cotton producers and is now also mining gold.

Hong Kong Activists Try to Storm Legislature

Tensions spiked at democracy protests that have gripped Hong Kong for nearly two months as a small group of activists clashed with police while trying to break into the city's legislature early Wednesday.

Police arrested six people in the overnight clashes and warned of more arrests. The scuffling came hours after authorities enforced a court order to clear some barricades from a small section of a nearby site occupied by pro-democracy activists.

The clashes underscored mounting frustration as the protests calling for free elections in China's semiautonomous territory drag on for more than 50 days with no end in sight.

Protest leaders distanced themselves from and condemned the violence, which was apparently organized through an Internet forum known to attract people with radical views. But they also blamed the Hong Kong government for angering demonstrators by failing to respond to their demands.

The protesters used metal barricades and concrete slabs to smash glass doors at the legislature before police used pepper spray, batons and riot shields to push them back. Police said the protesters repeatedly charged their cordon and injured three officers.

Pro-democracy lawmaker Fernando Cheung tried to intervene, but was pulled aside by protesters.

"We can't agree with the reason for taking this action," said Joshua Wong, the 18-year-old leader of Scholarism, one of two student groups leading the protests.

A third group involved in organizing the protests, Occupy Central, said that those responsible for the violence misled the crowd into attacking the legislature by spreading "false information." Rumors were reportedly circulating that lawmakers were scheduled to pass a bill that could restrict Internet freedom, when in reality the bill is still being discussed.

The student-led democracy protesters reject restrictions laid down by Beijing on inaugural 2017 elections for Hong Kong's top leader. But the students have been fighting to maintain momentum as the Hong Kong government appears to adopt a strategy of standing by in hopes it fizzles out.

The students' requests to talk to China's Communist leaders in Beijing have been rebuffed and three student leaders were prevented from flying to the Chinese capital on the weekend.

Authorities are expected to enforce a separate court order later this week requiring removal of some barricades from a second protest site in the Mong Kok district.

The Pirelli 2015 Calendar Has Landed

If you receive a Pirelli calendar in your lifetime, it pretty much means you've made it.

Circulated to only a hundred or so ultra VIPs each year, the calendar features a number of models in scantily clad outfits (we hear Leonardo DiCaprio is a big fan).

This year, Adriana Lima, Natalia Vodianova, Raquel Zimmermann, Isabeli Fontana, Sasha Luss, Anna Ewers, Carolyn Murphy, Cameron Russell, Gigi Hadid, Candice Huffine, Karen Elson and Joan Smalls have been photographed for the calendar, which was shot by Steven Meisel and styled by Carine Roitfeld.

Isabeli Fontana, who appears in the calendar for the eighth year running, told Vanity Fair she was becoming Raquel Welch, with the whip and cowgirl pants.

Meanwhile Natalia Vodianova flew in from Paris to shoot the calendar in New York mere days after giving birth to her fourth child, Maxim.

"I left him at home, in Paris, and I flew here to New York - even if only for a few hours - because I know what it means to work with Steven, Vodianova explained. It's a magical experience."

Self-proclaimed plus size model, Candice Huffine, says the calendar is a sign of the times this year.

"My presence on this set - the most glamorous in the world - is a sign that things are really changing," she said.

Carine Roitfeld, who styled the shoot, also weighed in on the end product, saying photographer Steven Meisel had made the girls truly beguiling.

"Personally, I've always loved shapely models, who often turn out to be more at ease with their bodies than normal ones," Roitfeld said. "That's precisely why I like them. Beauty inhabits different worlds and different ideas of beauty."

Harga BBM Naik, Ini Skenario Nasib Jokowi

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Pakar hukum tata negara, Refly Harun, mengatakan kenaikan harga bahan bakar minyak bersubsidi tidak akan berdampak pada pemakzulan Presiden Joko Widodo. Kenaikan BBM tersebut hanya akan menyebabkan syok terapi yang kemungkinan berlangsung hingga akhir tahun ini. "Tidak lama, kok. Saya kira dampak bisa segera diredam. Kepercayaan masyarakat pun tetap akan tinggi kepada pemerintah yang sekarang," katanya saat dihubungi Tempo, Selasa, 18 November 2014.

Menurut Refly, ada beberapa hal yang akan mengakibatkan pemakzulan pemerintah. Di antaranya, melakukan tindak pidana korupsi dan pidana lainnya, pengkhianatan kepada negara, menjadi warga negara asing atas kemauan sendiri, serta tidak lagi memenuhi syarat sebagai presiden atau wakilnya (klik infografis: Jalur Menuju Pemakzulan). Refly berujar, kebijakan pemerintah bisa saja keliru, tapi bukan berarti menjadi kesalahan yang utama dan fatal.

Seharusnya, tutur dia, Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat dapat menggunakan hak-haknya untuk mengkritisi kebijakan tersebut. Namun, dalam hal ini, Refly menyarankan DPR tidak perlu menggunakan hak interpelasi. "Cukup hak bertanya saja, kenapa dan bagaimana soal BBM naik. Mereka pun harus meyakinkan kelancaran program selanjutnya," ujarnya.

Pendapat serupa disampaikan oleh pengamat politik dari Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia, Siti Zuhro. Menurut dia, DPR tak bisa memakzulkan presiden dengan menggunakan hak interpelasi. Menurut dia, jika tidak berbuat makar dan menyimpang dari konstitusi, presiden tak akan bisa dimakzulkan. "Tak ada alasan untuk impeachment, apalagi dengan sistem presidensial," kata Siti ketika dihubungi kemarin. Hak interpelasi, ujar dia, bisa digunakan DPR kapan saja ketika merasa ada kebijakan pemerintah yang tidak jelas. Pemerintah juga mempunyai hak jawab untuk menjelaskan poin-poin yang ditanyakan DPR. "Kalau diterima, ya, tidak masalah," tuturnya. Soal kenaikan harga BBM, Siti mengatakan pemerintah tinggal menjelaskan alasan menaikkan harga BBM. Selain itu, bisa juga dijelaskan alokasi dana subsidi akan digunakan untuk apa saja. "Dijelaskan saja dengan data dan rincian yang terukur," ujarnya. Menurut dia, seorang kepala negara harus mampu mengelola kekuatan di dalam dan luar koalisinya, supaya kebijakannya dapat berjalan baik.

Strangers Lift Car to Save Woman’s Life

b Videos like these are a refreshing reminder that together, people have unlimited amounts of strength.

In a CCTV video from Thursday, from eastern Zhejiang Province of China, a couple on a scooter is seen riding along a city street when suddenly they are hit by a vehicle.

The husband is thrown, while his wife is caught and pulled under what appears to be an Opel Astra Estate.

Her husband, along with a police officer who happened to be nearby, quickly band together to try to lift the car.

But with inspiring immediacy, motorists and other passers-by gather to combine their strength. A small army of good Samaritans joins to help.

The Herculean efforts of about 20 people raised the car high enough so the woman could be pulled to safety.

Last reports by local media were that the woman was recovering at her local hospital, which no doubt is thanks to the quick action of those selfless onlookers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QmWmxeW-Hs

US Mum accused of squandering Donated Funds on Boyfriend’s Rap Album & Designer Clothes

Many may remember the sad story of a struggling single mum in Arizona who was arrested for leaving 2 of her children in a hot car while she attended a job interview.

At the time, her children were taken into care while she was arrested then charged with felony abuse.

People all over the world empathised with Shanesha Taylor as she was viewed as a struggling woman eager to provide for her family against all odds.

After the news went viral, donations poured in – totalling approximately $114,000.

Prosecutors also offered her a lenient plea deal which would allow her avoid jail. All she had to do was put $40,000 in a trust fund for her children along with other minor requirements. The original amount for the trust fund was actually $60,000 but this was reduced by prosecutors, yet Shanesha still did not fulfil her commitment.

According to prosecutors and former supporters, Shanesha went in a different direction. She failed to put the money in the trust fund by the specified deadline and is being accused by former supporters of squandering the donated money on frivolous items such as “paying for studio time for her baby daddy’s rap album”, “designer clothes”, “family trips” and more non-essentials.

Reverend Jarrett Maupin, a former supporter of Shanesha also alleges that she has been offered jobs and simply never showed up. Preferring to enjoy her new found “wealth”.

Now Shanesha’s plea deal is off the table, her lawyers have quit and she is set to go to trial for the felony abuse trial.

People who donated to Shanesha’s cause are said to be disappointed, discouraged and several are demanding for a refund.

Pics: See how Nigerians are struggling to buy ticket for the match today

Men and football sha...lol. Nigerians in Uyo pictured struggling to buy the N500 ticket for the Nigeria-South Africa match happening in Uyo, Akwa Ibom this evening. See more pics after the cut..

Indonesian police force female recruits to undergo 'virginity tests'

business but it's interesting to read.

According to Human Rights Watch, the organization fighting to get the practice abolished - female police recruits who make only 3% of the country's police force, are being forced to take 'virginity test' before they begin training.

The Indonesia police recruitment website says, ‘All women who want to become policewomen should keep their virginity."

The female police officers who have undergone this test, which examines them to make sure their hymens are still intact, say its ‘painful, traumatic and really upsetting’ and are asking that it be stopped. "I feared that after they performed the test I would not be a virgin any more. It really hurt. My friend even fainted because … it really hurt, really hurt.’ a recruit told HRW Human Rights Watch say they are working with the government to get rid of the practice as its ‘discriminatory and a form of gender-based violence’.

Photos: Navy Seal who killed Osama Bin Laden revealed

UK Daily Mail has revealed the identity of the Navy Seal who shot terror chief Osama bin Laden dead in the special force's most famous operation at Abbottobad, in Pakistan, on 2 May 2011. His name is Rob O'Neill, 38, (pictured above), a highly-decorated veteran who quit after 16 yrs service.

O'Neil waived his anonymity recently and agreed to sit down with Fox News later this month to talk about his life and that operation that finally brought some peace to America and its allies.

In an exclusive interview with MailOnline Rob's father, Tom O'Neill, said he's not afraid that his son has gone public "People are asking if we are worried that ISIS will come and get us because Rob is going public. I say I'll paint a big target on my front door and say come and get us.'

The former member of SEAL Team Six from Butte, Montana, has been portrayed on screen in Zero Dark Thirty, Captain Phillips and Lone Survivor.

The US military are not in agreement of his coming out now to talk about the operation and he now faces being frozen out of its circles for these closely-held secrets.

He is now a regular motivational speaker. He talks about applying the lessons of his time in the SEALs to business decision making.

O'Neill is the second SEAL of the 23 involved in the raid to make his identity public. He said his decision to speak out was prompted by losing some of his military benefits by quitting the SEALs after 16 years rather than staying for a full 20 years of service.

Philippines to Quarantine 112 Peacekeepers Returning from Liberia

No fewer than 100 soldiers returning to the Philippines from a peacekeeping mission in Liberia will be quarantined on a secluded island, a military spokesman said on Tuesday.

Lt.-Col Harold Cabunoc disclosed to newsmen in Manila.

According to him, the 112-member peacekeeping contingent is due to arrive in Manila on November 11th.

The military initially planned to quarantine them at a military facility in the northern province of Tarlac, but local officials opposed the plan, expressing concern about the safety of the residents.

“The chief of staff has decided to put the peacekeeping forces in a secluded place.

“That is an island paradise, but I could not disclose the exact location as of now.

“The soldiers will stay on the island for 21 days as required by the Department of Health,’’ Cabunoc added.

According to the most recent data from the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Philippines recalled the soldiers amid the outbreak of Ebola in Liberia, where 6,535 people have been infected by the virus, killing 2,413 of them.

“In all eight affected countries, 13,567 people have been infected since the start of the outbreak last year with 4,951 deaths reported mostly in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea,’’ the WHO said.

FRSC Gets Court’s Approval on New Number Plate

The Court of Appeal, Lagos, has granted the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) the permission to go ahead with the new number plate.

Justice Shagbaor Ikegh, gave the ruling in a judgment on Friday which was released to newsmen on Monday in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the plaintiff, Emmanuel Ofoegbu, had filed a suit against the FRSC before a Federal High Court, Lagos.

The plaintiff had challenged the Oct. 1, 2013 deadline set for motorists to change to the number plate and the threat to impound vehicles of defaulters.

“I would allow this appeal in part; for the avoidance of doubt, this appeal only succeeds in part to the effect that regulations 2012 has legal force, and is enforceable from October 1st, 2013, the administrative date set by FRSC.

“The part of the decision of the lower court declaring the regulation 2012 unconstitutional is hereby set aside,” Ikegh ruled.

Justice John Tsoho of the lower court had on March 26 described as unconstitutional the threats by FRSC to impound vehicles of defaulters, including the applicant’s vehicle(s) over the redesigned plates.

Tsoho held that although the FRSC had statutory powers and responsibilities, it was overreaching itself by its proposed action since there was no penal law under which same could be executed.

The judge had held that the FRSC could not force it upon Nigerians, a hastily conceived policy, without an enabling legal framework.

He said nothing had invalidated the old number plates, describing the plans by the FRSC as dictatorial and an arbitrary use of power contrary to the constitution.

Dissatisfied with the decision of the lower court, the FRSC had approached the appellate court, seeking an order upturning its verdict.

NAN also reports that the FRSC, in its appeal, had raised four issues for determination — whether the trial court was right when it took notice of newspaper publication on the alleged threat to impound vehicles of defaulters.

It also urged the appellate court to decide whether the trial court was right to hold that the National Road Traffic Regulation (NRTR) 2012 was a hastily conceived policy without a legal framework.

The FRSC had also queried the locus standi of the respondent to have initiated the suit at the lower court, and whether the court was right to have granted an injunction in his favour.

By October 31st judgment, three of the issues raised by the FRSC were resolved in favour of the respondent, Ofoegbu.

The court, however, upheld the validity of the NRTR 2012, adding that by the provisions of Section 5 of the FRSC Act 2007, the National Assembly had delegated the authority to the agency to so act.

“In respect of the issue of fear of impounding the vehicle of the respondent by the appellant, Section 35(1) of the constitution makes personal liberty of a person an issue of fundamental human right.

“The application of the respondent was brought to protect his personal right to liberty and protection of his movable property, therefore, the appellant has no legal framework to enforce regulation 2012 as it relates to impounding the respondent’s vehicle.

“The respondent would have the standing to sue to enforce his rights,” the court held.

On the issue of locus standi, the appellate court held that the respondent disclosed a sufficient personal interest on the face of the application.

Ikegh said: “I find no substance in the argument that the respondent lacked the locus to have brought the action at the lower court.

“He has the locus standi to bring the action as rightly held by the said court.”

On the issue of reliance on newspaper publications, the appellate court held that although the trial court was in error to have relied on same without the reaction of the appellant, there was, however, evidence in the form of affidavit in support.

The court, therefore, discountenanced the newspaper report, adding that the decision of the lower court that the respondent proved his case can still stand based on the affidavit.

On the issue of injunction granted by the lower court, the appellate court held that the Federal High Court granted exactly what was requested by the respondent for his benefit.

Ruling on the issue of validity of the regulations 2012, the court held: “The effect of regulations 230 (2) of 2012 preserves the NRTR 2004.

“Its effect is that all acts done under the 2004 regulation would remain valid until the time frame expires.

“The lower court was, therefore, right in issuing an injunction to protect the respondent’s right to enjoyment of the number plate issued on March 18th, 2013 which expired on March 17th, 2014.

Ahead of tough election, White House blames dismay with Washington

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - With many races still tight but polls showing a general trend in favor of Republicans, the White House on Monday blamed voter dissatisfaction with Washington for what could be an Election Day rout for President Barack Obama's Democrats.

Both parties pushed to get voters to the polls in a final effort to sway the electorate ahead of Tuesday's election, which could shift control of the U.S. Senate and upend policy priorities for the last two years of Obama's final term.

The president, who spent the weekend campaigning in Michigan, Connecticut and Pennsylvania, stayed in Washington on Monday and met with Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen about the U.S. and global economy.

Obama will face pressure to make changes at the White House if his party loses across the board. A Reuters/Ipsos poll showed 75 percent of respondents believed the administration needs to "rethink" how it approaches major issues facing the United States ( http://bit.ly/1ph8sLs ). Sixty-four percent said Obama should replace some of his senior staff after the election ( http://bit.ly/1rTVVbb ).

"At this point, I don't anticipate that will happen," he told a briefing. He said a key factor driving the election was "frustration with the failure of Washington, D.C., to put in place policies that are helpful to middle-class families."

Vice President Joe Biden told CNN in an interview broadcast on Monday that he expected Democrats would hold the Senate and dismissed suggestions that the White House would have to change the way it does business.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll showed respondents wanted the administration to "refocus" on tax reform, the Islamic State, immigration reform, the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, Iran's nuclear program, income inequality, Israeli-Palestinian peace and tensions between Ukraine and Russia, in that order.

Voters elect 36 senators, all 435 members of the House of Representatives and 36 state governors on Tuesday. Control of the Senate may not be clear, though, for some weeks, depending on the outcomes of races in Georgia and Louisiana that could spur runoffs.

Democrats had hoped a superior get-out-the-vote effort, which helped Obama win the White House in 2012, would offset apathy among their core constituency groups, which have a history of sitting out non-presidential elections.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (R) joins U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) at a re- … But the Republican Party has stepped up its "ground game." Republican National Committee spokeswoman Kirsten Kukowski said volunteers would keep knocking on doors until polls closed.

"We’ve completely revamped our ground game, and nearly all of our time and resources have gone toward expanding the electorate by persuading and turning out voters who typically don’t vote and turning them out as early as possible," she said.

Democrats sent out an email from first lady Michelle Obama, who is much more popular than her husband, urging supporters to get to the polls.

"With Election Day coming up tomorrow, right now is your time to make your biggest impact by getting out the vote, so Democrats can win crucial elections," she wrote.

Republicans must pick up six Senate seats and retain those they have to reclaim the majority from Democrats and control both chambers of Congress. Polls show several races are toss-ups.

One is in New Hampshire, where Republican Scott Brown is challenging incumbent Democrat Jeanne Shaheen.

A WMUR/University of New Hampshire poll put Shaheen, a first-term U.S. senator and former governor, leading by 49 percent to 48 percent, while a New England College survey showed Brown, a former U.S. senator from Massachusetts, ahead by 49 percent to 48 percent.

Races in Colorado, North Carolina, Kansas, Iowa and Alaska are also tight.

(Additional reporting by Scott Malone; Editing by Caren Bohan and Doug Royalty)

Stock futures point to lower open, energy shares in view

(Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Tuesday, with investors taking a pause following a rally that has taken major indexes to repeated records, although a sharp decline in crude oil prices could weigh on energy shares.

Both the Dow and S&P 500 had inched up to intraday records in Monday's session but ended the day with slight losses. The quiet session followed the Dow's biggest weekly gain since January 2013 and the S&P's biggest two-week jump since December 2011.

Energy companies will be in focus as U.S. crude futures CLc1 slumped 2.3 percent to $76.87 per barrel after top oil exporter Saudi Arabia cut sales prices to the United States. The Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE.P) fell 1.3 percent to $84.95 in premarket trading. Chevron Corp (CVX.N) fell 1 percent to $115.66. While the broader market has rallied this year, energy has lagged. The S&P energy index .SPNY is down 3.3 percent in 2014, the only one of the ten primary sectors that is negative on the year. This is the fourth straight day that crude has fallen, losing 6.7 percent over that period. It is down more than 30 percent from a recent closing peak.

Also in focus is the U.S. midterm election. Investors appear less concerned with whether Republicans take control of the Senate, as expected, or Democrats hang on to their majority by a slim margin. However, volatility may spike if, come Wednesday morning, some races remain so close that the majority party in the Senate is unclear.

Alibaba Group Holding (BABA.N) was by far the most active stock of Tuesday's premarket session, with more than 5.2 million shares changing hands, though the stock was flat around $101.80. The Chinese e-commerce giant reported its first quarterly results as a public company, posting revenue growth of 53.7 percent.

Among other earnings, Priceline Group Inc (PCLN.O) fell 5.7 percent to $1,129.75 before the bell after reporting its results. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc (REGN.O) lost 6.5 percent to $369.50 after cutting the top end of its full-year sales outlook.

On the upside, Office Depot Inc (ODP.O) climbed 13 percent to $5.75 before the bell. The office supplies retailer reported its first quarterly profit after three quarters of losses. It also raised its adjusted full-year operating income outlook.

The market's recent rally has largely come on strong corporate financial results, which have eased concerns about the pace of economic growth. With results in from 73 percent of companies, three-quarters have beaten analysts' expectations, according to Thomson Reuters data, above the long-term average of 63 percent.

'Marvelous' Marvin Sonsona's attitude ruining his promising boxing career

Lanky southpaw and former WBO flyweight and reigning North American Boxing Federation featherweight champion “Marvelous” Marvin Sonsona is slowly but surely ruining what was once a promising career with his lack of focus as a fighter and his lack of discipline.

The “Marvelous” tag is soon disappearing and is being replaced by a sense of frustration among his handlers and fans who expected great things from the 24-year-old.

A planned fight against former world title challenger and WBC Silver champion Rocky Juarez scheduled for December 21 possibly at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino has been called off following Sonsona’s failure to report to the gym to begin training despite several promises to do so.

The Juarez fight was to serve as a final eliminator to determine the mandatory challenger’s slot for the title recently retained by Jhonny Gonzalez who hammered ageing veteran Jorge “Travieso” Arce to score an 11th-round TKO which sent Arce into retirement.

Sonsona failed to realize that the Juarez fight was a crucial step in his bid to win a second world title considering his skill and punching power which was premised on the imperative that he trained hard and maintained his focus.

But he failed to do that believing that a month’s training would be good enough to win. This attitude which sometimes borders on “cocky” has frustrated everybody involved with the fighter.

International matchmaker and promoter Sampson Lewkowicz’s Filipino partner Samson Gello-ani had provided Sonsona with airline tickets to fly to Manila from General Santos City, not once but twice, yet he failed to take the flight which resulted in Gello-ani ‘s financial loss because of the “no refund” airline policy.

Gello-ani has lost his patience with Sonsona whom he helped become a world champion when he dropped WBO flyweight champion Jose “Carita” Lopez en route to a unanimous 12-round decision in Ontario, Canada to grab the world title.

Just when Gello-ani and Lewkowicz thought Sonsona’ career was once again taking off following his sensational third-round knockout of former world champion Akifumi Shimoda of Japan in Macau last February 22, boxing fans as well as trainers spotted Sonsona drinking beer shortly after the fight, in full public view.

His showing against Shimoda won praise from Top Rank promoter Bob Arum who said his knockout of Shimoda was one of the very best he had ever seen.

The left uppercut which devastated the former world champion from Japan was as perfect as it was vicious and provided an insight into the skill, speed and punching power of the Filipino.

In his next fight which was a rematch following his fourth-round KO loss in a vacant WBO International super bantamweight title showdown to former world champion Wilfredo Vazquez Jr, Sonsona dropped the Puerto Rican in the opening round but had to eventually settle for a split decision win last June 7 as the lack of training became evident as Sonsona faded in the championship rounds and often resorted to holding.

The fight which started in sensational fashion ended in disappointment as the hope of a repeat of the Shimoda knockout by Sonsona quickly disappeared.

Ranked No. 3 in the featherweight division by the World Boxing Council, Sonsona was being matched in a mandatory NABF title defense against undefeated Jayson “La Maravilla” Velez of Puerto Rico sometime in December but the fight was scrapped because of Sonsona’s failure to train and his handlers’ refusal to take any chances not knowing what Sonsona would do.

With the big opportunity to fight Juarez, Sonsona again failed to change his attitude and remained in GenSan having a good time and refusing to train, resulting in the fight being called off.

In the past we ourselves have spoken to Sonsona and impressed on him the need to concentrate on his career because of his inborn talent.

He listened for a while, came to Quezon City to train at the gym of Dr. Rajan Yraola under veteran trainer Jun Agrabio and even studied a DVD of Shimoda which we obtained for him from our friends in the World Boxing Council.

We studied the fight tape with Sonsona, trainer Jun Agrabio and Dr. Rajan Yraola at the gym of Yraola in Quezon City. Although he trained for less than a month he looked good and demolished Shimoda as we had predicted.

Sonsona didn’t train as hard as he should have for the Vazquez fight and failed to impress even though he won. With the Juarez fight looming, Sonsona didn’t start training as required, forcing a frustrated Gello-ani to throw his hands up in frustration telling us, “Marvin has to change his attitude, otherwise its useless.”

All efforts to contact Sonsona have proved futile. He doesn’t answer calls or text messages.

Regrettably it seems, a truly talented fighter is wasting the opportunities given him and throwing away his chances of becoming a world champion once again. What a crying shame!

Meet the woman who killed over 100 ISIS men

Meet Rehana, a Kurdish female fighter who has allegedly killed over 100 members of Islamic State (ISIS) during the fight over the town of Kobani.

The fighter, known only as Rehana, was named in a tweet which has already been shared thousands of times since it was initially sent on 13 October.

Journalist Pawan Durani tweeted a photo of Rehana and encouraged others to share it as well. “Rehana has killed more than a hundred #ISIS terrorists in #Kobane,” the photo’s caption reads. “[Retweet] and make her famous for her bravery.”

Rumors are soaring that Rehana was possibly captured and killed by Islamic State militants, but the claim has yet to be confirmed.

No matter what, Rehana has become truly a hero in social media, and fans are making sure that her bravery should not go unnoticed. She’s just one of many female Kurdish fighters.

However, reports say that the news of Rehana's death and reports claiming she single-handedly killed over 100 ISIS jihadists cannot be independently verified.

Many Kurdish women are known for their bravery and fighting skills after various reported incidents where they showed great strength while attacking the militants belonging to the dreaded Islamic State organisation.

Canadian Soccer Association remains adamant turf isn't second-class, grass won't be considered

Canadian Soccer Association president Victor Montagliani took part in a media conference call Wednesday to detail what went into the formal response the association filed last week to the 2015 Women's World Cup turf lawsuit, and he made it clear the association isn't not going to back down. The call covered several of the key issues the CSA sees with the lawsuit and discussed their plans to fight it in court, but the most notable tidbit emerging from it may well be that as of right now (with less than eight months before the tournament's first game), the organization is not considering alternatives to turf surfaces and has not talked to their city or stadium partners about switching to temporary grass. The CSA is doubling down on their stance that holding the tournament on grass isn't discrimnatory, and betting that this lawsuit won't lead to an outcome that forces them to change.

Wednesday's call with Montagliani and lawyer Sean Hern (a partner in B.C. firm Farris, Vaughan, Wills and Murphy) was largely them taking questions from journalists, and their responses to questions about if they'd considered grass at any point in the process or were currently considering it were particularly notable. Montagliani said the CSA's bid for the tournament included FIFA 2-star turf and met the international organization's specifications, and the organization plans to stay the course with that approach despite this opposition from foreign players.

"We knew our facilities were world-class," he said. "We were very happy with our bid. FIFA was very happy with our bid."

Montagliani said the CSA's turf plan fufilled the bid guidelines FIFA handed out, and that they've seen no reason to alter it.

"Our bid was well within the scope that was provided," he said. "[Grass] is not something we've looked at because there's been no need. ... The playing surfaces are within the parameters allowed by FIFA." Montagliani added that they haven't talked to other stakeholders, such as city officials, stadium officials or CFL teams (who would be impacted by a surface change at a shared facility), about the possibility of changing surfaces, as the CSA doesn't see the need for that at this time.

"The discussions with our stakeholders have all been in preparation for where we are now," he said. "We haven't engaged in any discussions with them because we haven't seen the need to."

A key argument the players suing over this are making is that the men's World Cup has never been played on turf. However, Montagliani argued that plenty of high-profile men's tournaments (including the U-20 World Cup in Canada in 2007) have featured at least some turf surfaces.

"There are games being played by men's A-teams on FIFA two-star surfaces," Montagliani said, citing in particular a Canada-Mexico Gold Cup match in Seattle last July and last week's Turkey-Czech Republic Euro 2016 qualification match. "The core issue in the claim that's being advanced is that FIFA 2-star turf is somehow second-class, and it's not."

The players suing the CSA argue that a high-profile men's tournament in Canada would not be held on turf, but the U-20 World Cup was partly played on turf surfaces. The CSA intends to bid for the 2026 men's World Cup, so a reporter asked if the plan for that event would include grass or turf.

Montagliani responded by saying that the CSA can't comment there, as FIFA's bid requirements for 2026 likely won't be out until at least 2016.

"It's very early days in the process," he said. "We don't know what the parameters or scope of that bid will be. ...We're a long ways away from looking at that."

Another issue discussed was the specific identities and numbers of the players who have filed the lawsuit, which Hern said is not at all clear.

"We have raised questions about who is in the applicant group, because there are some discrepancies," he said. "It was filed as 'players on national teams participating in FIFA Women's World Cup 2015'.

That's obviously not accurate; it's not all players."

Hern said 16 players were mentioned in the suit, but only seven are listed on the consent form to release their names, and some of those players may have withdrawn.

"We'd like to know who is involved," he said.

Another issue is whether the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal that the case has been brought to has jurisdiction over a multi-province event run by a Swiss body (FIFA). Hern said the CSA plans to raise jurisdictional arguments.

"It's unclear whether the Ontario tribunal has any jurisdiction.over stadium conditions in other provinces," he said. "We would say it doesn't, but that has to be argued."

Speaking of FIFA, it's been noted that they haven't filed a formal response yet. Hern said that's because they haven't been properly served with the suit.

"FIFA has not been served with the complaint under the relevant international treaties, known as the Hague conventions," he said.

Comparisons have been drawn between this case and the ski jumping one ahead of the 2010 Olympics, where a B.C. judge ruled that female ski jumpers were discriminated against, but that the International Olympic Committee was beyond the court's reach. Hern said there are some common points in the cases. "There are some similarities, with the IOC being international and FIFA being international," he said. However, this case is before a provincial human rights tribunal, rather than a provincial court, so the legal process is rather different. It's not likely to be a quick one, though. The plaintiffs have filed for an expedited hearing, but Hern said the CSA's position is that the claims about turf's safety in particular can't be settled without a lot of expert testimony.

"Our view that the case be argued on its merits is that it's going to require extensive evidence." So, there's likely a long legal road ahead. The start of the World Cup is drawing ever closer, but it's clear the CSA is not planning to concede and look at temporary grass options. They appear determined to fight this out in court. We'll see how that goes.