Olumide Fafore's Blog: May 2014

Wednesday, 28 May 2014

Sudanese woman sentenced to death for Christian faith gives birth in jail as outrage mounts

Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag, who grew up as a Christian and is facing execution in Sudan for marrying a man of the same faith as her's, has given birth to a baby girl in prison.
As global outrage mounts against the punishment, rights' group Amnesty International said Wednesday that more than 620,000 its supporters worldwide have joined "the myriad of voices calling for Meriam's release."
The baby was born Tuesday in the hospital wing at Omdurman Federal Women's Prison in North Khartoum and is said to be healthy the MailOnline reported.

Supporters of presidential candidate former army chief Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi hold his posters and wave national flags as they celebrate during the second day of presidential elections in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, May 27, 2014. Egypt extended its presidential election an extra day after two days of reportedly low voter turnout, an embarrassment to attempts by the front-runner, El-Sissi, to garner an overwhelming show of public support.

Egyptian authorities scrambled to rescue the country's presidential election from the embarrassment of low voter turnout, but few people trickled to the polls Wednesday even after the balloting was extended for a third day.
A low turnout will likely rob the all-but-certain winner, former army chief Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, of the overwhelming show of public support he sought in the vote.
Turnout is key for el-Sissi, because he is looking to prove to critics at home and abroad that his ouster last July of the nation's first freely elected president, the Islamist Mohammed Morsi, reflected the will of the people.

Dbanj with Newcastle United's Manager Alan Pardew
Dbanj is currently in Monaco to watch the Formula 1 Grand Prix and chilling with fellow celebrates. More pics after cut.....

Although numerous couples have shown that a person’s culture and religion does not impede their ability to love, cultural discrimination is still a big issue in African relationships.

Parents still warn their children against marrying partners from other cultures based on stereotypes perpetuated by society.
“Don’t marry a Xhosa or Mosotho woman, they cannot be trusted” or “a zulu man will abuse you and try to control your life”. "An Ibo woman likes money too much", a "Yoruba man is too proud"
These are some of the ways in which tribalism shows its ugly head in many relationships.
Aside from the language barrier in some cases, bi-cultural couples also have to deal with integrating their two cultures and traditions which can be quite a task if there’s no family support.

The tiny kingdom of Swaziland only has around $790,000 left in the bank, according to the central bank's latest estimate, as an economic slowdown in neighbouring South Africa hits home.

The official reserves would cover only four months of vital imports, the central bank's Monetary Policy Consultative Committee said in its latest fiscal update Monday.
"The contraction in the level of reserves was mainly on account of payment of government's external obligations," a statement said.
The country is highly dependent on imports and has seen exports hit by a slowing South African economy.

Benni McCarthy, exchanged vows on Saturday (24 May 2014) with his Scottish model wife Stacey Munro.
The former soccer star's close friends and family reportedly flew in for the lavish wedding in Edinburgh on Saturday.
McCarthy, 36, sported a kilt, as is tradition at Scottish weddings. Congratulations Benni.

In Pakistan, 1,000 women die in ‘honor killings’ annually. Why is this happening?

Farzana Parveen was stoned to death by her family outside a court in Pakistan.

On Tuesday, a pregnant 25-year-old woman was stoned to death by her family for marrying a man she loved.
The stoning took place in the middle of the day, outside a courthouse, beside a busy thoroughfare. The woman and her husband had been “in love,” her husband said, and they’d gone to a courthouse to sign the paperwork. Outside, the woman’s father, brothers and extended family waited. When the couple emerged, the family reportedly tried to snatch her, then murdered her.
“I killed my daughter as she had insulted all of our family by marrying a man without our consent, and I have no regret over it,” her father told police, adding that it had been an “honor killing.”

President Obama announced yesterday that the United States plans to only have an embassy presence in Afghanistan by 2016 -- the level of involvement the United States currently has in Iraq. By the end of this year, he wants to drop the military presence in the country to 9,800, officially ending our combat presence there, but essentially providing the number of troops requested by the military.
"The bottom line is it's time to turn the page on more than a decade in which so much of our foreign policy was focused on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq," Obama said. "Americans have learned that it's harder to end wars than it is to begin them. Yet this is how wars end in the 21st century -- not through signing ceremonies but through decisive blows against our adversaries, transitions to elected governments, security forces who are trained to take the lead and ultimately full responsibility."
A reduction of the size requested by the president would send 22,200 troops out of the country. A reduction of that size would also mark the first time that Obama has not been commander-in-chief of an active combat presence abroad, and a substantial drop from the 100,000 troops that were there in 2010.

Stunning Pictures Of Nigerian Hip Hop Star Tiwa Savage In Ghana

More pics after cut....

Convicted Boko Haram member, Kabiru Umar (aka Kabiru Sokoto), has appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan for pardon.He is promising to assist the FG to fight end the Boko Haram menace.

Umar was sentenced to life imprisonment on December 20,2013 after he was found guilty of the December 25, 2011 bombing of St Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madala, Niger State.
In a letter to the president, written on his behalf by his lawyer, Sheriff Okoh, Umar said he was innocent.

The letter obtained by Punch to the president reads:

Former president Olusegun Obasanjo according to AFP held a meeting last weekend in his Ogun State farm with relatives of some senior Boko Haram fighters as well as intermediaries on how to free the over 200 missing school girls by negotiating with Boko Haram.

Tuesday, 27 May 2014

Egypt's former army chief closes in on presidential victory less than a year after toppling Muslim Brotherhood

Egypt's former army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is expected to emerge victorious today as the next head of state less than a year after toppling the Muslim Brotherhood.

Seeking to boost turnout that appeared low on the first day of voting, the government declared today a holiday and extended voting by an hour so that polls would close at 10 p.m.

The central bank also declared a bank holiday.

Former army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (pictured) is expected to emerge from a second and final day of voting on Tuesday as Egypt's next head of state

With victory for Sisi a foregone conclusion, the turnout is seen as crucial to shoring up the legitimacy of the field marshal who toppled Egypt's first freely elected head of state Mohamed Mursi last July.

He enjoys backing from Egyptians worn down by three years of turmoil since Mubarak's downfall in 2011.

Amarachi , Kanu Nwankwo's Wife Turned A Year Older Today.

Happy birthday Amarachi Kanu.

"Wedding Gift"Kanye West gifts Kim Kardashian with self portrait

Kanye West and Kim Kardashian.

Kanye West got London artist Bambi to create a portrait of wife Kim Kardashian as a wedding gift, following their nuptials this weekend.

Kanye West gifted Kim Kardashian with a portrait of herself.
The rapper, who married the 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians' star on Saturday in Florence, Italy, commissioned London artist Bambi to paint a portrait of her to celebrate their nuptials.
A source told The Daily Star newspaper: "It's the first non-narcissistic thing Kanye has done because he specifically didn't want to be in the painting himself.
"He says he wants Kim looking as much like a princess as possible."

This are some of the newly released pictures of the fairy tale wedding between Kim and Kanye held last Saturday 24th may in Italy. More pics after cut..

Aerial view of Johannesburg.

The City of Joburg will have a record combined capital and operational budget of R47-billion in its 2014/15 financial year, higher than any other budget before.inShare

This was revealed by the Finance MMC Geoffrey Makhubo during a media briefing ahead of his budget speech in a council meeting held at the Joburg Theatre today.
Makhubo said in the last financial year the city exceeded for the first time the R40-billion mark on the on combined operational and capital expenditure.

Rapper and fashion designer Sasha turned 30 last week and celebrated with friends and colleagues on Friday May 23rd at a club in Lagos. Naeto C, Sound Sultan, Toolz, Darey Art Alade, Ice prince and many others were there to celebrate with her. Happy Birthday from FOB Sasha. More pics after cut..

Brendan Rodgers at the Aviva Stadium recently: “I am both humbled and privileged to be offered the chance to extend my stay at this great club,” he said.

Brenda Rodgers has signed a new, improved, long-term contract designed to keep him at Liverpool for the foreseeable future. Quite apart from rewarding Rodgers for his achievement in steering the club into second place in the Premier League and guaranteeing Champions League football at Anfield next season, the deal is intended to thwart any attempts to poach the 41-year-old.

The Northern Irishman had a year remaining on his previous agreement and this lucrative extension - its precise length has not been specified but it is understood to extend to 2018 - will make it very expensive for any potential suitors to prise him away from Anfield.

Victoria Osei and her daughters Perfect and Ama Osei at Cork city’s celebration of Africa Day

As the African Union is set to celebrate its 51st birthday on May 25, it does so as the continent remains caught up in a tide of terrorist conflicts, which many analysts feel the AU has done little to resolve.
"With unsolved conflicts dotted across our continent, really the efficiency of the AU is at stake and highly questionable. We don't need a rocket scientist to tell us that the AU is wanting, considering the terror attacks in East and West Africa," independent political analyst Evelyn Moyo tells IPS.
The Somali extremist group, Al-Shabaab, has waged a terror campaign in the Horn of Africa nation and across East Africa, with attacks spreading to neighbouring Kenya. The Sept. 21, 2013 attack on Kenya's Westgate Shopping Mall claimed over 67 lives and left more than 175 people wounded. The Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack.
Kenya's port city and popular tourist destination of Mombasa also experienced a number of terrorist attacks from Al-Shabaab, with the United Kingdom, U.S. and French governments issuing warnings to their citizens not to travel there.

Pro-Russian separatists said Tuesday they sustained big losses in yesterday’s gunbattle for control of this city’s international airport as sporadic shooting continued to rock the area around the airport.
A top Donetsk separatist leader, Pavel Gubarev, posted on his Facebook page early Tuesday that a rocket-propelled grenade hit a truck that was carrying wounded separatists from the battle at the airport, killing an estimated 35 and injuring 15. His claim could not
immediately be confirmed.

Reuters

People hold candles during an interfaith vigil praying for the release of abducted Nigerian schoolgirls in the remote village of Chibok, in Lagos, on May 14, 2014.

Related StoriesNigeria's military knows where the more than 200 girls abducted by Boko Haram are, but has ruled out using force to rescue them, the state news agency quoted Chief of Defence Staff Air Marshal Alex Badeh as saying on Monday.

Seven weeks since Boko Haram militants abducted more than 200 girls taking exams at secondary school in the remote northeastern village of Chibok, little is known of their whereabouts or what the military is doing to get them out.

Yolande Korkie, seen here with her two children, sent out a heartfelt plea to the people holding her husband to have him released safely.

South African Pierre Korkie was kidnapped in Taiz, Yemen, on May 27 last year.

Today mark a year since South African Pierre Kortie was kidnapped by Ql-qaeda militants in Taiz, Yemen with his wife Yolande in may last year.

Pierre was a teacher in Yemen and his wife did relief work in hospitals. Yolande was released in January 10 after Gift of Givers helped negotiate her release.

The kidnappers have demanded a sum of $3million ransom for Kortie. Information from Yemen says Kortie is still alive but in bad health.

We apply to his captors to please release Kortie.

Monday, 26 May 2014

Photos: "Love Scam" Nigerian Arrested By The EFCC For Suspected Murder Of 67 Year Old Austrialian Woman In Johannesburg.

In February 2013, a 67 year old grandmother from Australia who traveled to South Africa to meet a Nigerian man she met online was found dead under suspicious circumstances in a Johannesburg guest house within days of meeting the man who called himself Jesse Orowo Omokoh. Pics after cut..

Oyo State Governor’s daughter, Abisola Ajimobi- Daisi on Saturday attended Kim and Kanye’s wedding in Florence, Italy. Abisola was pictured with Malika and Lala Anthony, Khloe Kardashian and Kim Kardashian's besties before Kim's wedding rehearsals Friday night. More pics after cut...

Congrats Ini Edo.

Photos: Pomp And Elegance At President Zuma Inaguration 2014

More pics after cut...

Why you should be reading African books

By Etinosa Agbolahor

As the child of academics growing up in Nigeria, I was introduced to books at a young age. My first book was a paper-thin story about a corn princess and ants. As I grew older I read more books, mostly European and American; Judy Blume’s novels “The Babysitters Club”, Enid Blyton’s mysteries, stories in which curly-haired little girls yelped “Golly!” and sucked on lollies in the summer (in Nigeria, we had Fan-Ice. I testify it was just as good).

However, the stories I remember most were those set in other parts of Africa.
Books such as “The Boy Slave” by Kola Onadipe, “An African Night’s Entertainment” by Cyprain Ekwensi, “Without a Silver Spoon” by Eddie Iroh, and many other books within the African Readers Series.

Nkosazana-Dlamini-Zuma

Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma AU Commission Chairperson
Africa Day on 25 May, 2014 was the conclusion of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the formation of the Organisation of African Unity, now the African Union. Africa has used the opportunity of these celebrations to reflect on the past 50 years, the current state of the continent, but most importantly, to have a conversation on the future we want in the next 50 years.

These conversations find expression in Agenda 2063, a vision for the continent for the next 50 years.
Africa today has turned the corner, and is now home to some of the world’s fastest-growing economies, and with progress on a number of social indicators. Maternal mortality is going down, more people have access to basic services, and we have more children, including girls and young women in school and in higher education.

South Asia's bitterest rivals have an opportunity to turn a page in their history of troubled relations, Pakistan's prime minister said on Monday after he and other regional leaders arrived for the swearing-in ceremony of India's Narendra Modi.

Modi's invitation to leaders from across the region means his inauguration as prime minister in New Delhi is as much a show of his determination to be a key player on the global stage as a celebration of his stunning election victory.

Pakistan's Nawaz Sharif said the nuclear-armed neighbors, which were traumatically separated at the end of British rule in 1947 and have fought three wars since, should together rid their region of the instability that has plagued them for decades.

Yoruba actress, Bimbo Akinsanya, who was once accused of an attempted murder but was eventually discharged and acquitted by a Lagos court, has finally walked down the aisle with her heartthrob.

Few weeks ago, the popular Yoruba movie star held a marriage introduction in Lagos at the house of her parents. The event was attended by close friends of the actress along with her family members.

On Saturday, May 24, 2014, colleagues, close associates and family members of Bimbo gathered for her marriage ceremony, which also took place in Lagos. The new couple held their traditional marriage. It was gathered that the occasion was not a lousy one.

More pics after cut....

African Academy Movie Awards (AMAA) held on Saturday May 24, 2014 in Bayelsa state. Full list of winners and more pics after cut.

Best Short Film – Dialemi

Best Animation – Khumba (South Africa)

Best Documentary – Hamu Beya (Mali) & Portraits of a Lone Farmer (Nigeria & Denmark)

Rita Ijeoma Onyemachi emerged the winner of the 2014 Most Beautiful Face in Nigeria Saturday night May 24th at Eejnm Hotel, Uyo. More pics after cut...

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's wedding: all the details

As one of the most highly-anticipated celebrity weddings of the decade, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's ceremony lived up to expectations.

The power couple, who married on Saturday 24 May in Florence, Italy, chose the breathtaking Forte di Belvedere to exchange their vows — an imposing fortress overlooking the city that dates back to the 16th century.

Among Kim and Kanye's 600 guests were members of the Kardashian clan, including Kim's mother Kris Jenner and the bride's sisters Kourtney, Khloé, Kendall and Kylie. Kim was walked down the aisle by her stepfather Bruce Jenner, as Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli sang Con te Partiro (Time To Say Goodbye).

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West married in Forte di Belvedere

Notable absentees included Kim's brother Rob Kardashian, who was spotted flying home to Los Angeles alone, and music couple Beyoncé and Jay Z, who was previously reported to be Kanye's best man.

More pics after cut

Ukraine handed chocolate tycoon Petro Poroshenko a commanding victory in its presidential election Sunday, giving the pro-European billionaire a chance to resolve a conflict that has created the greatest tensions between the West and Russia since the Cold War.
The new leader takes the office once held by pro-Kremlin Viktor Yanukovych, who was ousted in February after anti-government protests. That revolt led to Russia’s annexation of the Crimean Peninsula, the rise of a separatist movement in Ukraine’s east and a torrent of violence that increasingly looks like a low-grade civil war. All are massive challenges that will test a longtime politician who has promised to navigate between Russia and the West.
Poroshenko immediately moved Sunday to paint himself as a conciliator, declaring that his first official act after inauguration would be to visit the heart of the separatist rebellion in the Donets Basin.

Julius Malema.

Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema has reached a settlement agreement with the SA Revenue Service (SARS), the High Court in Pretoria heard on Monday.

"Overnight... Mr Malema entered into a conditional compromise agreement [with SARS]," Nic Maritz, for Sars, told the court.
"The parties have agreed to an extension."
Tumi Mokwena, for Malema, confirmed the settlement agreement.
Malema's provisional sequestration was extended and the matter was postponed to August 25.
A draft order was handed to Judge Cynthia Pretorius who signed it. Malema was not in court.
According to court papers, Malema owed SARS R16 million plus interest after failing to submit tax returns between 2006 and 2010.

President Jacob Zuma's newly-announced Cabinet was largely welcomed on Sunday as being able to drive socio-economic transformation forward, but the official opposition was decidedly less excited about the prospects.
The African National Congress believed the choice of leaders was balanced and experienced.
"It is our belief that the Cabinet, as announced, espouses the qualities necessary for the task ahead, guided by the National Development Plan, to decisively confront unemployment, poverty, and inequality in an equitable and accountable manner," said ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe.

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday at this year’s Democracy Day Interdenominational Church service in Abuja has accused those behind the violence in the country of planning to bring down his government.

Jonathan described them as evil forces and says their plans will not work.

While addressing the congregation, the president said; “You can imagine if this government had not been facing these distractions within this period, definitely, we would have moved farther than this.

The Sultan Of Sokoto calls for unity against Boko Haram

Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau.

The leader of Nigeria's Muslims on Sunday called for followers of the faith to unite against Boko Haram extremists, pledging the government full support to ensure their defeat.

But the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar III, also said the government should address issues of inequality towards Muslims, which have been seen as factors in fuelling the five-year insurgency.

"Terrorism has no place in Islam," he told a congregation, including Nigeria's Vice-President Namadi Sambo, clerics and traditional rulers, at the National Mosque in the capital, Abuja.

"We must rise up, as always, with one voice to condemn all acts of terrorism, condemn those terrorists wherever they are and try our possible best as Muslims to ensure peace reigns in our community."

Real's Karim Benzema is unable to get the ball pat past Atletico goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. (Francisco Leong / AFP/Getty Images). More pics after cut.

President of Malawi Joyce Banda

Malawi's President Joyce Banda said on Saturday she was annulling the country's presidential election because of "irregularities" and ordered a fresh vote in 90 days, adding she would no longer stand for re-election.

Malawi's electoral commission (MEC) had received multiple complaints of irregularities following the May 20 vote, including from Banda's People Party.

The MEC released preliminary results on Saturday showing opposition Democratic Progressive Party candidate Peter Mutharika leading with 42 percent of the vote, followed by Banda with 23 percent. This was based on 30 percent of the vote counted.

"I am nullifying the elections, using the powers invested in me by the Malawi constitution," Banda told a news conference in the capital Lilongwe. She cited complaints of "various irregularities"

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