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UK unemployment rose by 44,000 to almost 2.5 million in the three months to the end of December, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has said. Youth unemployment rose to a fresh record high, with more than one in five 16 to 24-year-olds out of work after a rise of 66,000 to 965,000. The unemployment rate is now 7.9%, with youth unemployment running at 20.5%. The number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance also increased, by 2,400 last month to 1.46 million. Prime Minister David Cameron said unemployment, particularly among the young, was "a matter of great regret". But he stressed that it had been a problem for some time. The number of people in part-time work because they could not find a full-time job rose by 44,000 to 1.19 million, another high since records began in 1992. "The latest UK labour market figures provide further evidence that the jobs recovery has gone into reverse," said economist Vicky Redwood. Other data from the ONS showed that average earnings rose by 1.8% in the year to December last year, slightly down on the 2.1% growth in the year to November. The figures also showed that unemployment fell in Scotland by 13,000, but rose in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Mugging victim Mir Li suffered terrible headaches for four years – then doctors discovered a 4in blade buried in his skull. Crooks robbed and stabbed 37-year-old Mr Li when he was working as a taxi driver. The knife they used had snapped at the handle and the blade was left embedded – and hidden – between his skull and ear. Mr Li had no idea that it was there but had complained about splitting headaches for years before visiting specialist medics at the Yuxi People’s Hospital in Yunnan province, south west China. A spokesman for the hospital said: ‘He came to us with a long history of severe head pain and unexplained bleeding from his ears and mouth. As soon as we scanned him it was obvious what was wrong. ‘What is astonishing is that is was missed four years ago and that he has survived all this time with it in his head. We've seen needles and small objects buried in a skull but never something this size.’ Luo Zhiwei, head of the surgical department at the hospital, had a stab at summing it all up and said that the fact that Mr Li survived and lived a relatively normal life for all this time with the knife buried in his head was a medical miracle.

KEWA is a Charity Organisation with a mission to improve the social and economic condition of Refugee Women living in the UK through the provision of client centred training, advice and guidance in a caring and supportive environment.

KEY PURPOSE OF THE JOB

We are seeking for a qualified and experienced Community Business Advisor to develop, organise and deliver a programme of training and business counselling to BME women across the key areas of skills for business pre-start and business start-up. The Community Business Advisor will work directly with BME women from a diverse range of ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds. The job will include elements of face-to-face business counselling, group-based training, and e-mail, phone, and written communication of business advice. The post holder will be expected to assist in the development of CAFÉ project offering.

For application form please send in self addressed A4 stamped envelop including your CV To Administrator, Kenya Women Association, 449-451 High Road, Moran House, Willesden, London NW10 2JJ.

PNU's Joseph Gitari is the next Member of Parliament for Kirinyaga Central.Gachoki emerged the winner Wednesday after polling 18, 520 against his nearest challenger Daniel Karaba of Narc Kenya who got 16,681. It had been a close race with the two contestants from the two most active political parties in the region running neck to neck in most of the polling centers. The two had been engaged in intensive campaigns, a crusade that was supported by respective party big wigs who pitched camp in the area in the last days of campaigns in search of support for their preferred candidates. The voting exercise kicked off at 6am Wednesday morning and was generally peaceful save for a few episodes where a sitting MP from a neighbouring constituency was forced to flee to evade the wrath of an opposing camp. There were also claims of vote bribery which IIEC is investigating. NARC-Kenya's candidate Daniel Karaba had cast his vote at 9 am while his PNU counterpart Joseph Gitari cast his an hour later. Although it was his first time to venture into politics, Joseph Gitari has proved a force to reckon with in the constituency. The young professional is a surveyor by profession and boasts of being one of the consultants who helped resolve the controversy surrounding Migingo Island in Lake Victoria. He owns a surveying firm, the Geo acre situated Nairobi. The by-election was occasioned by the nullification of the election of former MP John Ngata by the high court. The race had attracted seven candidates including Party of National Unity's Joseph Gitari, Narc Kenya's Daniel Karaba, Beth Wambura of Kenya National Congress, DP's Henry Mwaniki, peter Murimi of SDP, PPK's Duncan Mwai and FORD Kenya's Samuel Kagoiyo. The contest was viewed as another supremacy battle between Presidential hopefuls Uhuru Kenyatta and Martha Karua who have been fighting for the domination of Central Kenya politics. Last year Karua's Narc Kenya scooped two out of the three seats in the September by-elections. And the latest development might just have acted to cement the political muscle of KANU'S chairman Uhuru Kenyatta in the region ahead of the 2012 general elections.

Members of Parliament from the Party of National Unity and rebel Orange Democratic Movement MPs have condemned remarks attributed to Prime Minister Raila Odinga that if the Ocampo six are not tried at The Hague, violence would erupt in 2012. Addressing the press at parliament buildings Wednesday, the legislators challenged Raila to clarify his remarks. Led by Tigania East MP Peter Munya, the law makers claimed that Raila has plans of destabilizing the country to acquire power. Munya said that the Prime Minister should face the International Criminal Court over the 2007/2008 post election violence if he thinks it is the best option. Dujis Mp, Aden Duale, said, they wanted the PM to explain to Kenyans how he arrived at the conclusion that violence would erupt.

Immigration staff are failing to take action against hundreds of migrant workers who have no right to stay in Britain, a critical report has found. John Vine, an independent chief inspector of the UK Border Agency, said the visas of migrants whose jobs had ended were not being cancelled. He also found insufficient checks were being carried out on companies which sponsor overseas workers. Immigration minister Damian Green said the system was being improved. The report comes as the government announced non-European Union workers earning more than £150,000 a year and some scientists were to be excluded from the government's immigration cap. Mr Green said the UK had to attract the brightest and the best to promote recovery. Mr Vine's report examined the government's points-based system for skilled workers who want to come to the UK. It found there were 150 cases where the visas of migrants who had finished jobs and were required to leave the UK were not cancelled. And there were likely to be many more because of a backlog of 3,000 potential cases as yet unprocessed, it added.

UKBA faces a resources challenge and the government is intent on making it worse” Mr Vine said he was concerned the agency was not visiting the firms who hire or sponsor migrant staff. He told the BBC: "The Border Agency needs to do the appropriate checks on the sponsor, and satisfy itself of course that they are a bona fide employer and that their employment exists. "And that's why I was concerned about the visit to the premises not having been carried out in all cases." His report also found inconsistent approaches to decision-making, with some applicants refused because of minor omissions, and others given extra time to supply the missing information. The agency had put profits before securing the UK's borders with an emphasis "always on income-generating work first", Mr Vine added. And he called for the agency to act promptly to return those living in the UK illegally. "If people no longer qualify to stay in the UK according to their visa conditions, then they must be required to leave the country," he said. "Many staff perceived that quality of decision-making and controlling immigration were not as much of a priority for the UK Border Agency as generating income and providing customer service."

Shadow immigration minister Gerry Sutcliffe said ministers were cutting 5,200 jobs at the agency at the "very time we need to improve enforcement and tackle illegal immigration. "As the independent chief inspector's report today makes clear, UKBA faces a resources challenge and the government is intent on making it worse," he said. Immigration minister Mr Green agreed changes needed to be made to ensure the system was effective. He said: "We do regulate sponsors properly, but obviously I'm very interested in what the chief inspector has to say and, if we do need to improve the UKBA systems, we will do so." He said communication among agency staff and the IT systems had been improved to ensure the system was moving "in the right direction".

Left: Alesha Dixon arriving for the 2011 Brit Awards at the O2 Arena (centre) Rihanna performs on stage during the 2011 Brit Awards at the O2 Arena and on right Cheryl Cole arriving for the 2011 Brit Awards at the O2 Arena. The ceremony took place on Tuesday night 15th February, 2011 at O2 (Doom).

Ms Jane Murugi Mugo of Nottingham, UK has lost their sister back in Kenya Mrs. BEATRICE WAIRIMU MUGO whom formerly lived in UK in (1996 to 2002). She passed away on 09/ 02/ 2011 at Kenyatta National Hospital. The late Beatrice was the daughter of Mr JOSEPH MUGO and the late GRACE WAMBUKU MUGO. Mother to JOSEPH MUGO (Joe) of YEOVIL (UK) ELIZABETH WAMBUKU and SARAH WAMBUI MUGO of Muthiga (regen), Grandmother of four children. She was sister to JANE MURUGI MUGO of (NOTTINGHAM UK), ANASTASIA WAIRIMU GARRIGAN (MANCHESTER UK), ELIZABETH WATURI (GERMAN) BEATRICE WAMBUI NJAU of (WESTLAND KENYA) and DIANA WANJIRU MUGO of KANGEMI, MARY MURUGI MUGO of KANGEMI and brother of MOSES NGUMI MUGO of KANGEMI all in KENYA.

Organising committee, family and friend will be meeting for the burial preparation at 34 PERTH ROAD, PLAISTOW E13 9DS FROM SATURDAY THE 12/2/2011 6pm. (Wakanjoro's House)

The memorial service stakes place on Thursday 17th February, 2011 IWRM Church, 500 High Street North, Manor Park, London E12 6QN as from 6.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m. - CLICK HERE FOR THE MAP

The report says Mr Mwau (above) is a director in 12 other companies that include Mwundo Ltd, Africa Centre for Hope Initiative Everywhere, Harun International Ltd, JH City Ltd, Preme Ltd, JN Records Ltd, Pepe Enterprises Ltd, Sheltown Ltd, Sports Champions Ltd, Tom Brown Ltd, Vitu Ltd and Kuston Kenya Ltd..Kilome MP Harun Mwau has vast business interests in the Nakumatt supermarkets chain, a report compiled by a team appointed by Police Commissioner into drug-trafficking allegations against him indicates. The report says Mr Mwau is a director in 12 other companies that include Mwundo Ltd, Africa Centre for Hope Initiative Everywhere, Harun International Ltd, JH City Ltd, Preme Ltd, JN Records Ltd, Pepe Enterprises Ltd, Sheltown Ltd, Sports Champions Ltd, Tom Brown Ltd, Vitu Ltd and Kuston Kenya Ltd. It says investigations did not establish any evidence to link Mr Mwau to drug-trafficking. - Daily Nation.

President Kibaki (second right, front row) with diplomats and top government officials after a meeting at Harambee House. They discussed lobbying the UN for a deferral of ICC trials, among other issues.

They met President Kibaki on Tuesday at his Harambee House office on the second day of the drive to harmonise the campaign to defer the trial of six people accused of perpetrating post-election violence. Most of the envoys are based at UN Security Council member-states where they are expected to lobby for a deferral of the expected trials by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Acting Foreign Affairs permanent secretary Patrick Wamoto down-played the meeting, saying the agenda was broad. “We called them for consultation on various key issues such as the ICC, Somalia and Sudan and to update them on the progress made so far in the implementation of the new Constitution,” Mr Wamoto said. He described the briefing as routine. “We usually have meetings of all our envoys every two years but in between, we can ask them to come whenever there are issues we wish to discuss with them,” said Mr Wamoto. The meeting was attended by top government officials. Justice permanent secretary Amina Mohammed took the team through the Status of Implementation of Agenda 4. President Kibaki’s adviser on constitutional affairs, Prof Kivutha Kibwana, discussed the new Constitution and implementation challenges, while Dr Kithure Kindiki — who is representing Eldoret North MP William Ruto at The Hague — spoke on the principle of complementarity and the question of deferrals. Mr Wamoto updated the envoys on Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka’s shuttle diplomacy, while Dr Monica Juma, the envoy to Ethiopia, gave the African Union’s take on the deferrals. - Daily Nation.

Close to half of the funds allocated for the construction of five dams across the country cannot be accounted for. The House committee on natural resources probing allegations of corruption at the Ministry of Water was informed by government auditors from the Ministry of Finance that procurement rules were grossly violated as millions of taxpayer's money was paid to fake companies. Finance Secretary Kilaka Mutua told the Mutava Musyimi led committee that the existence of 8 out of the 13 companies awarded tenders for the supply goods and services could not be established, a revelation that sparked heated debate as committee members sought to know exactly who received the money. Mr Kilaka further informed the committee that only 49 percent of funds under the Kazi Kwa Vijana allocated to the Tanathi Water Company could be accounted for. He said that about Sh57 million out of the Sh118 million was lost in the process. Appearing before the same committee to shed more light into the scam, members of the National Water Corporation board found themselves on the receiving end after it emerged that some of the listed directors of some of the construction companies awarded tenders for the constructions of the dams were non existent. At some point the meeting degenerated into a blame game as board members openly disagreed and gave contradicting statements. The water scandal surfaced last year when former assistant minister in the Water Ministry Mwangi Kiunjuri blew the whistle accusing the Minister Charity Ngilu of awarding the contracts to companies of her close associates an allegation she denied.

Justin Rowlatt asks what will happen if China overtakes America as the world's economic superpower. Justin sees China's impact on industry in Rio and the Amazonian environment. - VIDEO

An American radio station has allegedly unveiled the recipe for one of Coca-Cola's key secret ingredients.…

London, Tuesday 15th February, 2011. The Bank of England is coming under even greater pressure to act against rising inflation in the UK. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) says the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) measure of inflation stood at 4% in January - up from 3.7% in December. That is its highest level since November 2008 and triggers another letter of explanation from the Bank's governor, Mervyn King, to the Chancellor George Osborne. The ONS blames the VAT hike from 17.5% to 20% on January 4 and soaring commodity costs, especially crude oil. The CPI figure throws more weight behind the argument for raising the base rate of interest from its historic low of 0.5% to tackle the price rises though there are fears such a move would damage what growth there is in the economy. The Retail Prices Index (RPI), which includes mortgage interest payments, rose from 4.8% to 5.1% last month. The picture of rising costs may actually be worse than the UK's official figures suggest, according to a panel of experts writing in the journal of the International Association for Official Statistics. The report's authors claim the data understates the real increases in living costs.The union organisation, the TUC, believes workers are facing an 'unprecedented' attack on living standards and as a result it is demanding higher wages to compensate for rising costs. We should learn more about the Bank of England's forecasts for inflation and whether it plans to tackle the issue in the short term, when its inflation report is released tomorrow.

Pastor Joseph Njuguna of Nottingham well known as Man of God is starting a Ministry in UK. He will be launching his ministry on Sunday 20th February, 2011. The new ministry "Shekinah Glory Tabernacle International" launching will take place at One Love, 1 Bishops Avenue, Plaistow, London E13 0RB, off Plashet Road as from 2.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. All are invited.

Do you have a plot you want to develop which is in a prime area in Nairobi or Mombasa? With money or without money we can work it out for you. That is why Pinnacle Projects is there for you. You will not regret why you were introduced to us. Ring David in Nairobi on 0733638428 or email us on dkuria@pinnacleprojectsltd.com

Sale of a residential house situated at Kinoo (Kikuyu division Kiambu county)
Its 800 meters from the main Naivasha Nakuru highway.
Its on a 1/4 (quarter) acre plot.

Its a 4 bed room master en suit house and each bed room has its own toilet and a bathroom.
Interior rooms measurements are:
1 Visitor bedroom 11.1fx8.1f its toilet 2.1x5
2 Visitor bed room 10x13 and its toilet 7x3
3 Visitor bed room 11.1x16.8 and its toilet 7.3x9.4
4 Dressing room 7.5x7.1
5 Master bedroom 11.5x14 its toilet 7.1x10.5
6 Table room 19x14
7 Dining room 9.8x13.3
8 Kitchen 9.8x8.7 kitchen store 6.2x6.2
9 Interior corridor 3.1x26.8
10 Outside corridor 4.5x20

Iron sheet house.
1 table room 16.6x16.6
2 bedroom 12x12 bathroom 7x4.4
3 bedroom 11x11.8 bathroom 6.8x4
4 Kitchen 4.8x12

KEY PURPOSE OF THE JOB

For application form please send in self addressed A4 stamped envelop including your CV To Administrator, Kenya Women Association, 449-451 High Road, Moran House, Willesden, London NW10 2JJ. Or contact 0208 4594839 - Email: pwasendwa@yahoo.co.uk

Scott Mills travels to Uganda where the death penalty could soon be introduced for being gay. The DJ finds out what it's like to live in a society which persecutes people like him. - VIDEO

National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende has directed Justice and Legal Affairs Committee looking into the controversial judicial nominations to compile and hand in their report by Wednesday 12.30 pm in whatever form. The committee chairman Budalang'i MP Ababu Namwamba had asked for more time to vet the nominees. While rejecting the committees request, the Speaker said that the Standing Orders allow for tabling of a report in whatever form even if it is one sentence. "Seeking for more extension was least expected since the matter is of national importance and the country is waiting with bated breath" said the Speaker Marende was expected to rule on the matter Tuesday. Standing on a point of order, Hamisi MP George Khaniri said that the Legal Affairs Committee was not mandated to vet the nominees, while Committee member Isaac Ruto said it was not possible to complete the report in the stipulated time by the Speaker. Mr Namwamba's team has been examining the nomination of Attorney General, Chief Justice and Director of Public Prosecution. The Finance and Trade committee however tabled its report over the nomination of William Kirwa as the Controller of Budget. The speaker congratulated the committee led by Nambale MP Chris Okemo for a job well done.

The schedule of events for the London 2012 Olympic Games has been released. The first action will be women's football in Cardiff, Glasgow and Coventry on 25 July, two days before the official opening of the Games. The middle weekend promises to be unmissable, with British trio Jessica Ennis, Christine Ohuruogu and Paula Radcliffe set to be going for gold. The men's 100m final, with Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt likely to be centre stage, takes place on Sunday, 5 August. The dates, times, venues and prices for more than 600 sessions of competition across all 26 Olympic sports will be emailed to the 2.2m people who have signed up for information ahead of tickets going on sale on 15 March. London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe described them as the "greatest tickets on earth for the greatest show on earth".Double Olympic champion Coe said: "This is a really big moment, a huge moment. "In my own experience as a competitor this is the point that it suddenly becomes very real. "I remember this point in the build-up to Los Angeles, and suddenly realising I was going to be running seven races in nine days. "We are now getting to the business end of the project and we know from the number of people who have signed up for ticket information that there is a real hunger from all parts of the country to be there." After the women's football group games on Wednesday and the men's on Thursday, the opening ceremony of the Games will take place inside the Olympic stadium at 1930 BST on Friday, 27 July.

About 80 per cent of Kenyans living in the United Kingdom want to return home permanently, a government report says. Interestingly, 74 per cent of Kenyans with British citizenship also want to come home permanently, it adds. In fact, the report says, those with British citizenship “do not see it as an avenue for staying permanently in Britain but as a tool to continue going there temporarily after returning permanently to Kenya.” Respondents cited securing jobs commensurate with their skills, high cost of living and the stress associated with living in the UK as major difficulties. The study titled: “Harnessing the Development Potential of Kenyans Living in the UK”, was carried out in October last year to widen involvement of Kenyans living in the Diaspora in national development. A government official on Monday said the study focused on the UK because it was the leading destination for a majority of Kenyans seeking greener pastures. Tanzania, the United States, Uganda, Canada and Germany, in that order, are the other top destinations Kenyans flock to in search of fortune, better health and education for themselves and their children. On Monday, a Labour Migration Unit was opened at the Ministry of Labour as a one-stop shop providing migration information. The unit was set up with the support of the International Organisation for Migration because of the need to protect Kenyans travelling, working or living abroad. Labour PS Beatrice Kituyi said in a speech read on her behalf at the opening that for the unit to be effective, job-seekers should register with employment bureaus for their information to be captured. “Employers with vacant positions should also register, detailing nature of jobs, skills required and salary offered,” Ms Kituyi said. The development comes at a time when cases are on the rise of job-seekers being conned out of their money by bogus employment agencies. “This is happening because of lack of information,” she said, adding that all employment agencies will now be registered and vetted. “They will also be required to make regular returns giving details of jobs they are offering, the employers they are recruiting for, location, terms of services and salaries attached to these jobs,” she said. The Foreign Affairs ministry was receiving an average of 15 distress calls a day from Kenyans abroad concerning employment-related disputes. - Daily Nation.

1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, [1] nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; [2] and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

CLEARANCE OF DESIGNER CLOTHES, SHOES AND HANDBAGS (SUCH AS GUCCI, CHANNEL, JACQUES VERT, STUDIO ONE, PLANET, MOONSONS, etc,) PRICES RANGES FROM £10 - £50 LOCATION LONDON AND FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT 07932770824.

US President Barack Obama has unveiled his 2012 budget, describing the proposal as a "down payment" on future cuts to the US budget deficit. The budget aims to cut $1.1tn (£690bn) from the US deficit over a decade. He said the US must live within its means and called for some reductions, but said "we can't sacrifice our future" with drastic cuts. Republicans, who control the House of Representatives, do not think the cuts go far enough in tackling the deficit. "Presidents are elected to lead and address big challenges," Republican House budget committee chairman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin told reporters. "The big challenge facing our economy today and our country tomorrow is the debt crisis. He's making it worse, not better." Although Mr Obama is empowered to propose a budget, it is up to the US Congress to pass it into law and then to distribute the funds. Mr Obama's proposed budget is seen as an opening bid in a long process of negotiation with House and Senate leaders of both parties, and Republicans will press for deeper cuts. "The president talks like someone who recognizes that spending is out of control, but so far it hasn't been matched with action," US Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement. "Americans don't want a spending freeze at unsustainable levels. They want cuts, dramatic cuts. And I hope the president will work with us on achieving them soon." Mr Obama's budget proposal envisages total spending of $3.73tn in the 2012 budget year, which begins in October. That is a 2.4% reduction from the current year. The proposal also largely ignores what analysts say are the country's most crushing budget burdens: the Social Security retirement programme and the Medicare and Medicaid healthcare programmes for the elderly and poor. At a school in the state of Maryland on Monday, Mr Obama called for future investment in education, transport infrastructure and high speed internet, "so that every American is equipped to compete with any worker anywhere in the world". But he acknowledged that with the US government budget deficit expected to top $12tn through the next decade, some cuts and tax increases were needed. "While it's absolutely essential to live within our means - while we are absolutely committed to working with Democrats and Republicans to find further savings and to look at the whole range of budget issues - we can't sacrifice our future in the process," he said. "Even as we cut out things that we can afford to do without, we have a responsibility to invest in those areas that will have the biggest impact in our future." The budget calls for a five-year overall freeze in domestic non-defence spending, reducing that spending as a share of the economy to the lowest level since the 1950s, Mr Obama said. That would amount to about $400bn in reduced spending over the next decade. Republicans, meanwhile, have called for $61bn in cuts to the remainder of the current fiscal year. Among the programmes slated for cuts under his own plans are some that Mr Obama said he considered crucial, including development grants for poor neighbourhoods. Mr Obama also reiterated his call for $78bn in cuts to the defence budget over five years.

OVERHEARD BY MR. SEED: "They say that dipping a hand in a bucket of water does not leave a dent in the water, basically I do not have anything to loose by asking and in so doing hold no ill will should you say no." - A Kenyan living in London

Crime, traffic, drugs, too much construction, too many tourists – we all have something that annoys us about the place we live. But cheer up, it could be worse – a lot worse. You could live in one of these places like Dzerzinsk, Russia, home to the former Soviet Union’s Chemical Weapons manufacturing operations, where if you can even find anything alive, three- headed frogs or worse, are not an uncommon sight. Or Rotorua, New Zealand the self-proclaimed most noxious city on the planet, where the smell of rotten eggs is strong enough to choke a horse at 100 yards, thanks to the volcanic sulphur springs that dominate the landscape. So count yourself lucky if you don't live in any of the following (in no particular order) 80 Worst Cities in the World, and if you do live in one of them – too bad. (Maybe it's time to move!!) - CLICK HERE FOR MORE

Thousands of opposition supporters have clashed with security forces in the centre of the Iranian capital, Tehran. Police used tear gas and detained dozens rallying in solidarity with uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia. There was one report of a death in Tehran. The BBC also received reports of similar protests being held in the cities of Isfahan, Mashhad and Shiraz. Earlier, the police placed opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi under house arrest, according to his website. It said the move was intended to prevent the former prime minister attending the march in Tehran, which the authorities had prohibited. The road leading to Mr Mousavi's house was also blocked by police vans. Fellow opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi, a former speaker of parliament and a senior cleric, is also reportedly under de facto house arrest.

The US trade deficit ballooned in 2010 by the largest amount seen in a decade, Commerce Department figures have shown. The trade deficit - the difference between imports and exports - hit $497.8bn (£311bn) last year, up 32.8% on the year before, the biggest annual percentage gain since 2000. Imports from China hit record levels, totalling $364.9bn for the year. For the month of December, the deficit widened by 5.9% to $40.6bn, after a rise in the price for imported oil. This rise was also a factor in the widening annual deficit, with the average price of imported oil increasing from $56.93 a barrel in 2009 to $74.66 in 2010. In 2009, the deficit had fallen to an eight-year low after a drop in imports. But that was reversed in 2010, as overall US imports of goods and services grew 19.7% to $2.33 trillion, indicating that US consumers and businesses spent more as the economy picked up. Exports increased by 16.6% to $1.83tn for the year. If the US can maintain this rate of growth in exports, it will reach President Obama's goal of doubling exports between 2010 and 2015. The closely-watched trade deficit with China rose by 20.4% to an all-time high of $273.1bn, the largest imbalance the US has recorded with a single country. Chinese imports far outweighed the $91.9bn worth of US exports going the other way. Critics in the US have accused Beijing of manipulating its currency to gain unfair trade advantages and of creating barriers to keep US goods out.

Fresh protests and strikes have flared in Egypt as demonstrators demand better pay and conditions from the country's new military rulers. Bank, transport and tourism workers all demonstrated in Cairo after 18 days of protests succeeded in removing President Hosni Mubarak. In a TV statement, the military urged all Egyptians to go back to work. Earlier, Cairo's Tahrir Square was cleared of protesters but hundreds soon returned, joined by disgruntled police. Hundreds of uniformed and plain-clothes police marched to Tahrir Square, shouting: "We and the people are one" and vowing to "honour the martyrs of the revolution". They said they had been forced to act against their wishes in using force on protesters early in the anti-government demonstrations. But they are detested by many ordinary Egyptians, says the BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo, and repairing relations will take time and hard work. Most of the thousands of protesters in the square had left on Sunday after welcoming the announcement by the new ruling military council that it would dissolve parliament and suspend the constitution.

US unemployment fell in January to 9% from 9.4% a month earlier, the Department of Labor said. It is the second such monthly fall, after unemployment fell from a rate of 9.8% in November. But despite this, the number of jobs created, at 36,000, was far below the expected 140,000. The poor figure may have been due to blizzards during January, which are thought to have kept many workers at home. The total number of unemployed fell by 600,000 versus December, according to the data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Some economists interpreted the drop in unemployment as symptomatic of a long-term decline in overall employment levels. As job-seekers give up looking for work, they ceased to be classified as unemployed. The number of people "marginally attached to the workforce" - meaning they were not actively looking but available to work - stood at 2.8 million, up from 2.5 million a year earlier.

Tiger Woods has been fined for spitting on a green during a tournament in Dubai. The controversial former world number one was filmed spitting after missing a putt on the 12th hole during the Dubai Desert Classic. It is not known just how much Woods has been fined for the breach of the European Tour's code of conduct. The punishment could range from £250 to £10,000 however the golfer received a reported £1.8m to take part in the event. The golfer has apologised on Twitter: "The Euro Tour is right - it was inconsiderate to spit like that and I know better. Just wasn't thinking and want to say I'm sorry." Sky Sports commentator Ewan Murray, who noticed the offence, said Tiger's conduct was poor: "There are some parts of him (Woods) that are just arrogant and petulant. Somebody now has to come behind him and maybe putt over his spit. It does not get much lower than that." Woods could also be fined under United Arab Emirates law. The punishment for the offence is around £100. His form on the course was also poor. Despite being one shot off the lead going into the final day, he slumped to 20th. The golfer is trying to regain his form after a difficult 18 months. He was dropped by a number of sponsors following revelations about his private life which led to a divorce from his wife Elin Nordegren.

“Two Turkeys do not make an Eagle”, - Vice-pres of engineering Vic Gundotra - a clear reference to rumours that Nokia and Microsoft are looking to work together on future mobile handsets.

A crowd of attendees examines a Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental, the company's newest and largest passenger plane, during an unveiling ceremony February 13, 2011 at the company's factory in Everett, Washington. The new plane features quieter, more fuel efficient engines, more seating and a redesigned interior. The first plane also featured a red paint job, a departure from the traditional Boeing blue

SEATTLE/PARIS — Boeing has rolled out a new jumbo jet, hoping to relive the glamour surrounding the birth of the 747 over 40 years ago and use it to boost slow sales. The 747-8 Intercontinental will seat 467 passengers, 51 more than the current version of the 747, and burn less fuel while offering passengers more comfort, the U.S. planemaker says. The unveiling comes almost 42 years to the day since the maiden flight of the 747, which went on to be the world's most recognized jetliner and transformed the global travel industry. Loading stock quotes… It is the first appearance of a radically new version of the passenger jet since the first jumbo, with its humped two-storey cabin and 196-foot (69 meter) wingspan, took the world's breath away on a sunny morning at Everett in September 1968.

"People were awe-struck. It was a monster; nobody had seen anything like it," said Jim Mullins, a Paris-based science writer who covered the original roll-out for King Broadcasting. "Today it looks ordinary but at that time there were no airplanes even close to it in size. They opened up the hangar doors and it was just unbelievable. People reacted as if they were rolling out the Empire State Building."

The family of Mercy Mwangi aka Mercy Lenny of South East London and the organising committee of Edward’s hospital bill cordially invites all our esteemed friends and well wishers to a fundraising event on Saturday the 26/2/11 in support of hospital bill for Edward.

Edward is Mercy’s nephew who was involved in a road car accident in Nakuru on the 15/11/2010 which left him in a critical condition and ended up in Agakhan Intensive Care unit in Nairobi. Edward Spinal Code was affected around the area just below the neck (c5-c6) which controls the movement of the body. He had surgery and his upper limbs have significantly improved but his lower limbs are yet to recover. He has been in critical care until 17 January 2011. He was then transferred to Equator hospital for further physiotherapy.

Edward has incurred a high hospital bill amounting to KSH 3.2million. We sincerely ask for your support. For those who would like to support and are unable to come during the fundraising could deposit their gift in the account below.

171 and 172 are 5 minute walk. Nearest train station is Brockley or Newcross.

A Kenyan lady has passed away in Liverpool, UK. The late Mrs Petronella Ouso wife of Mr. Micky Ouso of Liverpool, UK passed away last week. Burial will take place on 24th Feb. 2010 in Liverpool. We're appealing to friends and well wishers for donations to help in off-setting funeral expenses. Please forward any donations through Barclays Bank, A/C No.13880664, Sort Code 20-10-84. It is a sad news for the family as the daughter of the deceased has been sick with a kidney failure where she needs about £80,000 - See the poster below:

A father allegedly stabbed his daughter and son to death while he had them for the weekend and then rang his ex-wife to tell her what he had done. She dialled 999 and police and paramedics raced to his flat to be confronted with the horrific scene where Regina, 10, and Rolls, eight, were pronounced dead. Their father was arrested at the flat in a modern block in Empire Square, a short distance from the shops and restaurants of Borough market near London Bridge, South London. Jean Francis Say, 61, was appearing at Camberwell magistrates' court on Monday 14th February, 2011 charged with double murder. Met officers were called to the flat in Empire Square at about 8.15am on Sunday 13th February, 2011. A spokesman added: "Officers discovered the bodies of two children." The case is being investigated by detectives from the Child Abuse Investigation Command. Say is divorced from the mother and is believed to have had custody of them over the weekend. Neighbours said he was French speaking and of West African origin. He worked as a part-time steward at football grounds. A small group of neighbours gathered on a grass verge below the second-floor flat today. They said Say had previously worked as a concierge. One woman who lives above him said: "We used to see him about quite often, he was always polite and was very well-dressed.

A slowdown in the increase of Kenya's elephant numbers is raising fears among conservationists that hard-fought gains in saving the animals may be reversed amid growing demand for ivory. An aerial census conducted in the country's largest elephant sanctuary last week showed a drop in the population's growth rate from a previously recorded four percent to two percent. A total of 12,572 elephants were counted in the expansive Tsavo ecosystem, which may mark a slight increase from the previous count in 2008 of 11,696 but also represents a decline in the growth rate. Julius Kipng'etich, the director of the Kenya Wildlife Service, said the slowdown might reflect "increased demand for ivory and the subsequent rise in poaching." Kenya has lost dozens of elephants in recent years and authorities say the one-off sale of ivory stockpiles granted to four southern African states in 2008 by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) has increased demand in Asian countries. "We have seen cases of poaching increasing," said Kipng'etich.

* 155,000 illegal immigrants qualified for sickness benefits and maternity pay
* Work and Pensions Department did not ask for work permits when assessing certain claims

Tens of thousands of workers with no right to be in Britain have been claiming benefits thanks to an extraordinary loophole in the law. Ministers have discovered that Labour allowed 155,000 illegal immigrants to qualify for sickness benefits and maternity pay. Government sources put the cost to the public purse at ‘tens of millions of pounds’. They say the shambles is a damning indictment of how Labour lost control of both the benefits and immigration systems with taxpayers left to foot the bill. Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith will outlaw the practice in welfare reform legislation expected to be unveiled this week. Ministers believe most of those abusing the system came to work in Britain for a limited period and overstayed their visa. Others managed to get a job without a work permit. At present, someone could be illegally in the UK and able to claim Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), paid to those too sick to work, as well as statutory payments such as maternity or paternity pay and sick pay. Astonishingly, the Work and Pensions Department has not in the past asked to see work permits when assessing claims for ESA. Employers, meanwhile, have not been asked to show proof that workers are in Britain legally when processing claims for maternity or paternity pay or sick pay. Wasted millions: Labour allowed 155,000 illegal immigrants to qualify for sickness benefits and maternity pay. Pictured is former Work and Pensions Secretary, Yvette Cooper A Whitehall source said: ‘It cannot be right that people who aren’t eligible to work here can get benefits that are a substitute for earnings. ‘This is a classic example of where the welfare system has been allowed to get completely out of control. It is difficult to track because these are illegal workers, but the cost is likely to be in the tens of millions.‘Clearly it’s incredibly unfair and ministers are acting to legislate to close the loophole as quickly as possible.

'Work permits showing people are here legally will be needed for ESA claims or an employer will have to show one when they are putting claims through. 'The Bill we are bringing forward will start the root-and-branch overhaul needed to put fairness back at the heart of the system.’Hundreds of thousands of National Insurance numbers were handed out under Labour to illegal workers as, alarmingly, there was no requirement on JobCentre staff to check whether a person was in the country legally. Many employers wrongly believed that having an NI number meant foreign staff were allowed to work in the UK.Illegal workers should not be eligible for any state-funded benefit, housing, or anything other than emergency NHS treatment. At the moment, a ‘habitual residency test’ is used to establish whether migrants are eligible for other types of benefit. To qualify for jobseeker’s allowance, employment support allowance, pension credit and income support, they must demonstrate that they have either worked or have a good opportunity to get a job. However, the European Commission has warned ministers that the rules may infringe the human rights of EU citizens and are ‘not compatible’ with EU law. It has started legal proceedings against Britain to have restrictions on welfare claims by incomers scrapped. The Welfare Reform Bill, ministers say, will bring an end to the complex, costly and inefficient series of benefits and tax credits, replacing them with a single universal credit. Cuts to housing and disability benefits will also be confirmed. The scale of the welfare challenge facing Britain is laid bare today in figures which show at least 330,000 children – around one in 30 – are growing up with a parent claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance. Mr Duncan Smith said: ‘We know that family is the most important influence on a child’s life, so it is no surprise that with this many children growing up with parents on unemployment benefits we are facing intergenerational worklessness and benefit dependency on such a massive scale. ‘Our broken welfare system has reinforced this destructive cycle for generations.’

Malibu Court is an executive development in Kitengela Township comprising of 10 No. Bungalows for sale. The development will feature 8 No. 3 bedroom units and 2 No. 2 bedroom units with DSQ. This is a development designed to offer quiet, private and secure homes you can own at the same time giving you unrivalled luxury and comfort. The project has been created with the family in mind where its location away from the hustle and bustle of the city adding value to the enchanting houses. The development is located in the Kitengela area approximately 1 km from Yukos petrol station along the Nairobi- Namanga highway. - MORE

NairobiTwo Parliamentary Committees tasked to look into the controversial nominations to four constitutional offices by President Mwai Kibaki are Monday putting final touches on their independent reports. The Committee on Administration of Justice and Legal Affairs and that of Finance, trade and planning are expected to hand in their reports Tuesday afternoon as directed by Speaker Kenneth Marende. Justice Committee chairman Ababu Namwamba has downplayed divisions among members saying that the team has made considerable progress. He exuded confidence that the report will be ready for tabling in Parliament and urged Kenyans to remain calm. The Namwamba team has been looking into the nomination of Justice Alnashir Visram as the next Chief Justice, Prof Githu Muigai as the Attorney General and Kioko Kilukumi as the Director of Public Prosecutions. There have been reports of threats and lack of consensus among members of the two parliamentary committees. Three MPs opposed to the nominations claimed they had received threats that their security would be withdrawn. ODM's Olago Aluoch (Kisumu Town West), Millie Odhiambo (nominated) and John Mbadi (Gwassi) claimed that unknown callers told them that the government was going to withdraw their security details. The three who have vowed to stay putsaid they will seek to raise the matter with the Speaker and the Police Commissioner. On the other hand the Finance committee headed by Nambale MP Chris Okemo is looking into the selection of William Kirwa as the controller of budget. Finance committee chairman Chris Okemo however says his team has already come up with an interim report which they intend to finalize Monday afternoon, with reports indicating that they ruled against nominated controller of budget William Kirwa's suitability for the post, due to his graft allegations.

Dr John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York and the second most powerful cleric in the Church of England, has warned against forcing vicars to conduct same-sex civil partnerships as the Coalition prepares to grant full marriage rights to homosexual couples.

The Liberal Democrat Equalities Minister, Lynne Featherstone, is expected to announce that churches, synagogues and other religious settings will be able to host civil partnership ceremonies for the first time. As The Daily Telegraph reported in December, the Coalition is also considering extending homosexual rights to allow full “marriage” for same-sex couples. Currently, the term “marriage” applies only to the union of a man and a woman. Liberal Jewish groups, Quakers and other Christian organisations have been pressing the Coalition to introduce the civil partnership reforms, and gay rights campaigners welcomed the latest news. The Church of England, however, has voiced its opposition. Senior Anglican officials have said the Church is unlikely to host civil partnerships, which would include religious readings and hymns under the plan. Some critics fear the reforms could pave the way for legal challenges that would force vicars to conduct homosexual “wedding” ceremonies against their will.

Dr John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York, told BBC One’s Andrew Marr show: “I live in a liberal democracy and I want equality for everybody. I cannot say the Quakers shouldn’t do it. “Nor do I want somebody to tell me the Church of England must do it or the Roman Catholic Church must do it because actually that is not what equality is about.” The Liberal Democrats have supported equalising marriage laws for gay and straight couples. The party’s deputy leader, Simon Hughes, has predicted that a new law giving homosexual couples a right to full civil marriage could be introduced before the next election. Ministers are still considering the issue but could bring forward plans for consultation later this month. Stephen Parkinson, director of Forward in Faith, a traditionalist Anglican movement, said: “It is a matter for the Christian churches to order their own affairs. Her Majesty’s Government has no place interfering.”

He said he was concerned that individual churches could suffer the same fate as the Christian B&B owners who were recently sued for refusing to allow a gay couple to stay in a double room. “Some lobby group could set about trying to provoke litigation,” he said. “The question would be whether it is litigation against the Church as an institution or more likely against poor, innocent ‘Rev Bloggs.’” Quakers welcomed the plans. Michael Hutchinson, Acting Recording Clerk for Quakers in Britain, said: “This is about including all of our religious community in being able to publicly express their deep commitment. We wish to move further to allow legal marriage for same sex-couples but this is a welcome step along the way to full equality.” Peter Tatchell, from the homosexual human rights campaign group, OutRage!, said allowing civil partnerships to take place in religious settings was “long overdue”. “When the legal change comes into effect, no religious institution will be forced to perform civil partnerships. It will be up to them to decide,” he said. “The next logical step is to end the ban on gay civil marriages. I urge the government to bring forward legislation to ensure marriage equality. Gay civil partnerships are not good enough. They are not equality. In a democratic society, everyone should be equal before the law. All couples – gay and heterosexual – should be able to get married in a civil ceremony in a register office.”

Players in the tea industry in Mombasa are optimistic of a return to business once protests in Egypt calm down. They said although the protests that led to the exit of President Mubarak had seen sluggish purchase of tea, the situation would improve when banks become fully operational. Egypt is a key buyer of Kenyan tea with annual revenue of up to Sh15 billion. The political crisis in Egypt has created instability in the East African tea market as buyers have adopted a wait-and-see attitude. And with a decline in supply of tea in the world market because of global warming and other factors, Kenyan tea traders say prices may improve. Drought and global warning is expected to influence the decline in tea supply and enhance prices. A member of Mombasa-based East Africa Tea Trade Association (EATTA) Mr Peter Kimanga said they were hopeful the Egyptian tea market would stabilise soon. "Egypt is a key tea market for Kenya and we hope that the situation will calm down and the demand from that country rise again," he said.

A quarter of RAF trainee pilots are to be sacked in a cost-cutting cull that threatens to leave the Armed Forces short of airmen, The Daily Telegraph can disclose.

Up to 100 student pilots will be told the news on Tuesday with some of them only a few hours away from becoming fully qualified to fly fighters, helicopters and transport aircraft. The cuts will mean the waste of an estimated £300million already paid for training the pilots, plus the cost of redundancies. The training of RAF pilots can cost up to £4million a man. There are fears that the sackings will lead to a shortage of helicopter and transport pilots on the front line in Afghanistan. Tomorrow, one in four of the 400 student pilots will be taken aside to be told their commissions have been terminated when Air Vice Marshal Mark Green, the head of RAF training, visits each of the three flying schools. Up to 20 trainee fast jet pilots, 30 helicopter pilots and 50 air transport pilots will be axed, The Daily Telegraph understands. Some pilots made a last-minute plea to RAF high command to give them a year’s sabbatical, while others have offered to take a drop in pay in order to qualify. Many of them are astonished that they could be sacked just 30 or 40 flying hours short of getting their pilot’s wings. To qualify as a fighter pilot takes four years with 300 hours’ flying on various aircraft. “We have spent the last four years of our lives training for this and they are just going to get rid of a huge amount of expertise overnight,” said one trainee.

“It’s a real kick in the teeth and I would be devastated if I was chosen for redundancy as this is something I have worked for my entire life, through school, air cadets and university.” Some in the helicopter wing are just five or six sorties short of qualifying. “It feels like we are only numbers and nobody cares,” said a flight lieutenant helicopter pilot trainee. “This is madness as so much money has been spent on us. It’s a really hard pill to swallow.” A fast jet flying officer, 24, said: “It just makes no sense to me. So much money has been invested in us yet it is simply being thrown away.” Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Graydon, a former head of the RAF, warned that the cuts would leave the Air Force with a “black hole” of pilots in future years. “If you don’t have a steady stream of youth, you will end up with a shortage of people,” he said. Commander John Muxworthy, the chairman of the UK National Defence Association, said the defence cuts were now into the “seed corn” of the Services. “Cutting these pilots is going to weaken our capabilities in anything to do with air operations, which will impact on every other RAF and Army element in Afghanistan. This is a step too far.” The redundancies come despite fears that many veteran RAF pilots will leave within the next two years to take up airline jobs as the civilian aviation industry recovers from recession. The RAF has an estimated 210 fully qualified fast jet pilots, more than 200 air transport or surveillance pilots and 220 helicopter pilots. It says it needs fewer pilots because it has reduced its fleet of fighter aircraft through the axing of 66 Harrier jets. It is also likely to shrink the Tornado fleet by half, to 60. The number of Eurofighter Typhoons will remain at 160 once all the aircraft have been built.

It is expected that up to 20 pilots will be taken from the fast jet training wing at RAF Valley, 30 from helicopter training in RAF Shawbury and between 40 and 50 from air transport at RAF Cranwell. There is now speculation that one or more of the training bases could close. The cuts are part of 5,000 redundancies being forced on the RAF after the defence review, which will reduce total personnel to 33,000 by 2015. Britain’s Armed Forces will be scaled back over the next decade, leaving it with fewer ships, aircraft and personnel. As well as the RAF redundancies, 7,000 jobs will go in the Army and 5,000 in the Royal Navy. Jim Murphy, the shadow defence secretary, said: “The harmful human impact of the Government’s defence plans is becoming clearer by the day. People will want a full explanation about why and how this decision has been taken and why it has leaked before the pilots themselves have been told.” RAF chiefs argue that the redundancies are necessary because large numbers of fighter aircraft are being cut. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “The defence review has already made clear there will be a reduction in the number of assets and airframes across all three services. However, any reductions in the RAF will not affect operations in Afghanistan and priority areas of capability will not be compromised.” The cuts come just weeks after private contractors started to scrap the £4 billion fleet of Nimrod MRA4 reconnaissance aircraft that had never flown. Defence chiefs warned the move would leave a “massive gap” in Britain’s security. But six of the nine aircraft have now been destroyed after the MoD ignored pleas to stop until a full risk appraisal was done.

The frog with a flame-coloured head was named Ranitomeya Benedicta and on right the Ranitomeya Amazonica has similar bright markings.

Night time weddings will be able to take place in future under plans outlined by the government. The changes allowing marriages to take place 24 hours a day in England and Wales are part of the Protection Of Freedoms Bill. They will also apply to civil partnerships. Currently couples can only wed between 0800 and 1800 under rules dating back to the Marriage Act of 1836. The move comes after suggestions to a government consultation. Any similar changes in Scotland and Northern Ireland would need to be brought in by the devolved administrations. The Church of England says a relaxation in the times of church weddings would require a change to Canon Law from the General Synod, which meets twice a year. And the Catholic Church has reportedly said it would not conduct late night ceremonies. But the changes are expected to boost the demand for evening civil wedding ceremonies, especially in the summer months. In 2002, rules were amended to allow ceremonies to take place in sites other than churches, registry offices or specially-licensed venues. Since then the likes of Blackpool Tower, Tower Bridge and race courses have hosted civil weddings. However, there will be no prospect of spur of the moment marriages at Las Vegas-style chapels where in the past some couples have wed after a night of heavy drinking - at least 15 days advanced notice will still be required.

Five people were killed and about 60 others injured on Saturday 12th February, 2011 in a grisly road accident along the Kitale-Bungoma road. The 1pm accident occurred when a bus belonging to Masinde Muliro University with about 70 students on board collided head on near Sikhendu market with a Nissan matatu which was carrying 18 passengers. Head of Traffic, Trans Nzoia County, Justus Ondimu said two students and tthree passengers in the ill-fated matatu died in the accident. The bus was transporting the students to a burial of one of their colleagues in Kiminini division of Kitale while the matatu was heading to Bungoma. The injured were rushed to Kitale district hospital while the bodies were taken to the same hospital's mortuary.

Watch out, there’s a bus coming... Meet Francisco Domingo Joaquim, whose 17cm (6.7in) rubbery mouth is officially the largest in the world. The 20-year-old, who can fit a can of fizzy pop – sideways – in his flexible gob, won the World’s Widest Mouth title at the Big Mouth competition in Rome. The ‘jaw of awe’, as he’s apparently known, shot to stardom on the streets of Angolan capital Luanda – and was tracked down by Guinness Book of World Records researchers, who spent two years trying to find him. It was ‘a dream come true to be honoured by Guinness World Records’, he said. The YouTube sensation’s drinks tin insertion beat jaw-dropping talent from around the world, with contestants cramming their cakeholes with saucers, coffee cups and beer bottles. He’s even performed on Italian TV, popping a can in and out of his mouth 14 times in a minute. - VIDEO

"I want to give my kids just enough so that they would feel that they could do anything, but not so much that they would feel like doing nothing". - Warren Buffet. (The third richest man on earth).

With these words Warren Buffet the American billionaire bequeathed 80% of his $40 billion plus fortune to the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation-to fund charitable and humanitarian causes.

Our country Kenya has one of the most gaping disparities between the rich and the poor. Put in perspective, the rich in Kenya have access to power and opportunity than many rich citizens in developed countries. The Kenyan rich can buy excellent healthcare, education for their children, power and sadly justice. The Kenyan rich – predominantly current and former politicians must urgently realise that their privileged positions demand responsibility and a duty to society.

Andrew Carnegie and John Cadbury, the 19th century American and British philanthropist respectively observed that the rich have a responsibility to the society that natured them and from where their wealth emanated. In tandem with their wealth maximisation goals, the wealthy must actively fulfil altruistic goals to benefit society and offer opportunity and the basics of life to those whom these remain a pipedream. The Kenyan rich and especially those who own old wealth must heed this exhortation. To this category belong the families of the independence founding fathers, colonial home guards and the career politicians who have made millions–from their illicit access to the public purse during the Kenyatta, Moi and now Kibaki/Raila regimes. They should deliberately and generously start donating their wealth-especially the ill-gotten, to society and to do this by supporting causes which will transform the lives of the ordinary poor in Kenya.

Nearly half of the current Kenyan cabinet and senior Civil servants comprise of individuals worth over 100 million shillings with several billionaires among their ranks. Most of them don’t own this wealth because they have worked harder or have superior ingenuity than the average Kenyan. For these millionaires, donating to charitable causes will not affect their already opulent lifestyles. What would it cost President Kibaki, PM Raila, Mudavadi, Uhuru Kenyatta , retired President Moi , Saitoti, Michuki, Najib Balala, Henry Kosgey, to donate 50 million each to a worthy national non-political cause-even if as an act of restitution? In a country where over 20% of Kenyans will sleep hungry today, where 20,000 children will die this year due to preventable pneumonia, where countless will drop out of secondary school and college due to fees, where many expectant mothers will experience traumatic labour due to lack of basic clinical amenities, it should be scandalous for such a small number to own so much-and immoral that they feel entitled to hold on to money they may never need. This should prick their conscience.

First Kenyans need to learn from the country with the most generous philanthropists –the United States. In 2009 over $303 billion was charitably given by American businesses and individuals. This may be a small amount relative to the GDP of America. As a country we can have a start. The culture of giving isn’t a function of biology-it can be learnt and natured. Wealthy Americans have been donating their wealth since the 18th century-among them Dale Carnegie, Rockefeller, Henry Ford and latterly Warren Buffet and Bill Gates whose money has helped Kenya in malaria and other programs. Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder of Facebook has pledged to give billions to charity. The wealthy Kenyans can learn a lesson and quickly leap frog to give opportunity to the many without hope- in education, health, sport, etc. In fairness some wealthy Kenyans have done a lot and credit goes to the likes of Manu Chandaria and other unsung Kenyans who have given generously -not as a launch to a political career- but genuinely to make a difference.

Rich Kenyans may start by giving their wealth to causes and to areas they have a local connection to, such as support to a local school, dispensary, immunisation centre, a local self-help project etc. Success at local level can then be replicated regionally or nationally.

Secondly they should make their giving targeted to ensure it’s not very thinly spread. For example the rich from Central Kenya could target their wealth to reducing the alcoholic pandemic and the alarming spread of Aids among the youth by sponsoring programs at local level. This may act as a counterweight to the Mungiki uprising. Those from Luo Nyanza could target their philanthropy to poverty eradication and research into the malaria and Aids pandemics as well as repugnant practices which continue to ravage this province- whose potential has largely been wasted. Successive governments have failed Luo Nyanza and it may be time the sons and daughters of this province brought to bear their intellectual abilities and cash to targeted grassroots initiatives to ransmute poverty to prosperity. The rich from the Coast and North Eastern Kenya may target their philanthropy to education and poverty eradication. Cleary those from the Rift Valley could target theirs to reconciliation, peace and integration.

Third, a coalition of the rich may come up with national initiatives to support and fund such as capacity building through think tanks and research institutions –harnessing the best Kenyan brains to propose radical solutions to pressing national challenges in science, economy, education, health etc. It’s worth noting the influence think tanks like the Carnegie Endowment and the Hudson Institute in the US; and the Institute for Public Policy and Research and the Institute for Fiscal Studies have had in policy formulation and implementation in Britain. Kenya’s own Institute for Public Policy and Research (IPPR), the International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology-ICIPE founded by the late Professor Thomas Odhiambo, The Green Belt Movement founded by Nobel Laureate, Professor Wangari Mathaai are refreshing indicators of what such initiatives could achieve.

Fourth professionals could donate their time. Doctors could donate their time to help in health education and immunisation for avoidable and lifestyle illnesses. The Kenyan doctors who in the past provided free surgery and treatment to cleft lipped patients in Kisii provide an excellent showcase of how this can be done.

Fifth, the government can intervene and encourage giving through generous tax break as happens in the US where tax rebates are available for charity donations. In Britain the government adds 25% to all money given by a tax paying person through a program called giftAID .This has encouraged donations in the knowledge that for example £100 given to charity is topped up so that the receiver gets £125. The Kenyan government may start small even a 5% rebate/top up to encourage giving by individuals and entrench in our already compassionate culture the art of philanthropy. Tax could also be applied in the reverse direction-by way of punitive death taxes –on those estates where wealthy owners held on to much of their wealth to their death. Taxes can be a powerful tool to deter selfish intergenerational transfer of inherited wealth and the preservation of entrenched class privilege by the rich-and instead promote altruistic redistribution.

Finally, we need to teach our children early about the importance of charitable giving, from volunteering on a Saturday afternoon to clean a local church, community centre to visiting and helping the old and vulnerable in the locality. American schoolchildren learn about benefactors such as Andrew Carnegie, who in the early 1900s gave away the equivalent of billions to fund 3,000 public libraries, research institutes, colleges, concert halls etc.

I believe that if the Kenyan rich set an example, the rest of us; ordinary hewers of wood and drawers of water will rise to the occasion and give the few shillings we can spare. If half of Kenyans-on average were to give 1000 shillings to a good local or national cause every year, we would raise about 20 billion shillings independent of government. Well targeted philanthropy can help address both government and markets failure.

Some will argue that giving will entrench dependency. To an extent yes. But it needn’t. Giving people hand-outs creates dependency but empowering them doesn’t. Together as a country and a people we can make a difference and count on one another to look after our weakest and vulnerable and bequeath to posterity more than we received.

The Kenyan rich who heed this clarion call and donate their money to good causes to benefit the unknown needy can rest be assured of posterity and when it’s time to leave planet earth, they will draw courage from the words of Andrew Carnegie thus….“Surplus wealth is a sacred trust which its possessor is bound to administer in his lifetime for the good of the community. The man who dies rich dies disgraced”.

He chairs a UK Initiative for a Kenyan Orphanage caring for 165 mainly Aids orphans-based in Githunguri, Kiambu, Central Kenya.

A one-year-old girl from China has set a new world record for having the most fingers and toes on any living person. Lei Yadi Min, residing in the South Okkalarpa township in Yangon with her mother and sister, has seven toes on each foot and six fingers on each hand - a total of 26 in all. The child is now awaiting official recognition of her feat (and hands) by world record authority Guinness in its 2012 Book of Records. Guinness currently recognises the record holders in this particular field as Pranamya Menaria and Devendra Harne. The two Indian children, aged five and 15 respectively, have both developed 12 fingers and 13 toes - 25 in all - as a result of polydactyly. This condition is a congenital anomaly that occurs in one in every 500 live births, and the extra digits are usually non-functional. However, these youngsters are still some way off the record set for the highest number of fingers and toes at birth. One anonymous child was born in the Liaoning province of China with a whopping 15 fingers and 16 toes. However, the youngster did not manage to retain his/her place in the record books, as the surplus digits were promptly removed by doctors.

Eight live tortoises were found at Coventry International postal hub on Tuesday 8 February, after UK Border Agency officers foiled a plot to smuggle the rare creatures into the country. The Indian Star Tortoises, a rare breed protected under international law and collectively worth more than £2,000, were discovered in a parcel which had journeyed almost 6,000 miles by air freight from Thailand. Our officers searched the parcel and beneath a scarf and greeting card they found a plastic lunch box containing 8 young tortoises. Further inquiries by the team revealed the tortoises, which are protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), did not have the necessary accompanying paperwork and permits. Following action by our officers, the rare tortoises have survived their ordeal and are currently being cared for in quarantine while plans are drawn up for them to be rehoused. Carolyn Stott, UK Border Agency assistant director in the Central Region, said:

'The illicit trade in endangered animals is a serious contributory factor to the threat of extinction faced by many endangered species.

'This seizure demonstrates the UK Border Agency takes its role in enforcing international agreements and prohibitions designed to protect the natural environment very seriously.

'Anyone tempted to trade in protected creatures and plants should think again, and companies need to make sure they have the right paperwork before they import exotic animals into the UK. I also urge holiday makers to ensure the souvenirs they buy do not contribute to this problem.'

The intended recipient of the tortoises was arrested in Manchester by our officers and enquiries are currently ongoing. In 2008-09 our officers seized 61,402 CITES items.

If you are a student and are about to complete your studies or you are under the PSW, check the following list of shortage of occupation to see if you could qualify to switch your visa to work permit under the Tier 2 general.

If you do qualify, check from the list below if your employer is listed in the register of sponsors before submitting your application.

Students and PSW rules are changing soon. Plan in advance what you intend to do prior to your current leave expiring. Dependant’s (wife’s/husbands) of students and PSW should also consider switching their leave early as well. Those switching from PSW or dependants may not need to meet the labour test requirements.

Playing of loud and excessive music in any public service vehicles will from now on attract a fine of not less than sh.350, 000 on conviction or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 18 months or both. Loud music from public service vehicles has been associated with many hazardous effects with some expectant women complaining of miscarriages, other people get heart attacks, high blood pressure, ulcers and even stomach upsets. Addressing a press briefing at the NEMA offices in Nairobi on Friday, National Environment Agency, acting Director General Dr. Ayub Macharia instructed all the matatu owners with vehicles fitted with any enhanced music amplifying equipments to remove them with immediate effect or face the full wrath of the law. "We know that all PSV's come with fitted conventional sound equipments which are conducive to the environment but over time operators make alterations by installing equipment that excessively amplifies music," he said. Macharia said that a major crackdown with a collaboration of NEMA, TLB and the Kenya police will be mounted in about two weeks time that will see all defiant vehicles netted. Other gadgets that the Authority want removed from the public service vehicles include the big television screens, noisy Musical horns that are unnecessary and also warned about interfering with the mufflers in the exhaust system which cause noise pollution. "The matatu is meant for transportation and not entertainment, any form of entertainment should play as a background and it's not supposed to interfere with a person's mental state." Macharia said. Speaking at the same briefing, Mr. Hassan Ole Kamwaro, chairman of the Transport Licencing Board (TLB) said that most of the matatu crew members are partly deaf due to the exposure of such loud noise most of the time. "Scientifically, noise that exceeds 90db after an exposure of 8 hours would lead to hearing impairment and in some instance we have measured sounds of up to 120 db from inside these matatus."' He said. Kamwaro said they were aware of some of the notorious routes that play loud music and named Burururu, Eastleigh, Outering among some of the common ones. NEMA called on vehicle owners to regularly service their vehicles to ensure good mechanical state as this will reduce the amount of vehicle emission and minimize air pollution as they await gazzettement of the air quality regulation by the environment minister. The two partners further said they will be having a meeting on Friday afternoon to decide on the fate of the 2NK matatu SACCO following on of their vehicles that kidnapped a uniformed police officer a few days ago. They are an estimated 16,000 matatus plying about 63 routes. The total volume of passengers that would be carried in 14 seater matatus through the 63 routes at any one trip would be 224,000.

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Hosni Mubarak has decided to step down as president of Egypt. In an announcement on state TV, Vice-President Omar Suleiman said Mr Mubarak had handed power to the military. It came as thousands massed in Cairo and other Egyptian cities for an 18th day of protest to demand Mr Mubarak's resignation. Protesters responded by cheering, waving flags, embracing and sounding car horns. "The people have brought down the regime," they chanted. Mr Suleiman said Mr Mubarak had handed power to the high command of the armed forces. "In the name of God the merciful, the compassionate, citizens, during these very difficult circumstances Egypt is going through, President Hosni Mubarak has decided to step down from the office of president of the republic and has charged the high council of the armed forces to administer the affairs of the country," he said. "May God help everybody."

Proceedings at the Nairobi High Court were Friday temporarily paralyzed after a death row convict committed suicide at the basement cells of the High Court in Nairobi. Reports indicate the convict ended his life after losing an appeal against a death sentence in a case he had been charged for robbery with violence. The death row convict Jackson Kiarie was found dead in a toilet at the cells. He had been charged alongside four others for robbery with violence and had earlier been handed a capital penalty by Justice Kalpana Rawal. His wife who had come for the judgment of the death sentence appeal could not contain herself when the judges upheld Kaplana Rawal's judgment and immediately broke down in tears. But things took a turn for the worse when Kiarie was taken to the cells upon which he is alleged to have asked a warder to escort him to the toilet where he used his shirt to hang himself, ironically choosing to end his life at a time when he was appealing to escape the hangman's noose. The warder decided to check on him after he took long only to find him dead. Although adamant to the flurry of questions from journalists, prison warders were at pains to explain the incident which they claim took them by surprise and a complete breach of security on their part.

President Barack Obama's special envoy for Sudan is set to replace Michael Ranneberger as US ambassador to Kenya. Scott Gration, a retired Air Force general and Africa specialist who President Barack Obama selected to guide Washington's policy on Sudan, will be nominated to become the new U.S. ambassador to Kenya, a White House statement said. Gration is stepping down after helping to lay the groundwork for the African country's peaceful secession referendum last month. "We would like to stress that his departure in no way indicates that this administration is walking away from the many challenges we still face in Sudan, particularly in Darfur," the statement said. Gration helped apply U.S. pressure on both Khartoum and the south Sudan government to finish preparations for the January referendum in which south Sudan's voters overwhelmingly chose to split off and form Africa's newest country. Gration, often believed to be at odds with other Obama administration officials, also promoted incentives for Khartoum, capped by a promise to begin work to remove Sudan from the U.S. state sponsors of terrorism list and eventual full normalization of ties. Some activists have criticized Gration's policy for going too easy on Khartoum, noting that violence continues in the western region of Darfur where the United Nations believes as many as 300,000 people died after non-Arab rebels rose up against Sudan's government in 2003. Ranneberger who took up the Nairobi posting five years ago has many times been accused of meddling in Kenya's affairs. Since the release of classified cables by WikiLeaks on December 8 and 9, Michael Ranneberger has been called a rogue ambassador with many calling for the envoy's removal. President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga reacted angrily to secret cables sent from the US Embassy in Nairobi portraying the coalition government in bad light. The Kenyan government also criticized the diplomat for his alleged attempts to influence national affairs. The President said Ranneberger was using money to influence Kenyan youth and destabilize the country. Last week, Parliament withdrew a Censure Motion against the envoy which was filed by North Imenti MP Silas Ruteere. Acting Foreign Affairs minister George Saitoti said any complaints against an ambassador should be handled through diplomatic channels instead of publicly "washing dirty linen" that could strain ties.

Twin mountain gorillas have been born in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. The babies born on 3 February 2011 are only the fifth set of twins ever recorded in the history of Rwanda's mountain gorillas. The last reported birth of mountain gorilla twins was in 2004, according to conservation group The Gorilla Organization. Fewer than 800 mountain gorillas are thought to remain in the wild, though numbers are thought to be increasing. "It is very rare to hear of mountain gorilla twins, so we were all excited to hear the news from rangers yesterday," says Emmanuel Bugingo, Programme Manager in Rwanda for The Gorilla Organization, which has staff in London, UK and Africa.

West Ham are due to be formally announced today as the club that will take over the Olympic stadium after the London 2012 Games. The Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) have called a news conference in Westminster this morning where they will announce their preferred choice. OPLC board members are being recommended by their officials to choose West Ham's bid over Tottenham's. That will see the athletics track retained inside the stadium and avoid huge embarrassment to ministers and the London mayor Boris Johnson, who would otherwise have been accused of breaking promises to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Tottenham yesterday expressed their concerns that the news of West Ham's victory had leaked out ahead of the OPLC meeting. The club said in a statement: "Whilst we are concerned to read that there appears to have been a leak of information from the OPLC about what their recommendation and decision may be, we regard it as premature to make any comment at this stage." The recommendation from OPLC executives does not automatically mean that West Ham will win the backing of the board members, but it would be a major surprise if that was not the case. The board's decision also has to be ratified by two Government departments and the London Mayor's office, and that is likely to take place next week. Again, it would be a huge shock if the OPLC decision was not rubber-stamped by the ministers and Boris Johnson.

If you missed this programme on BBC 1 then have a look at below: Giving the dead to the vultures.

In the Altai Mountains in Mongolia the vast open spaces make hunting almost impossible, so the locals have forged a partnership with golden eagles. - VIDEO

Series exploring Madagascar and its unique wildlife. David Attenborough reveals the most bizarre places on the isolated island, and the wildlife which lives there. - VIDEO

Tension is mounting in the Egyptian capital Cairo ahead of fresh protests in response to President Mubarak's announcement he will not step down. Crowds are gathering outside the presidential palace, Tahrir Square and the offices of state TV in the city. Meanwhile, the military's supreme council has said it will make an "important statement to the people". The BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo says the mass protests could bring protesters into direct conflict with the army. This is the most dangerous moment so far in more than two weeks of protests, he adds. In a televised speech on Thursday evening, Mr Mubarak said he planned to stay in office until September's polls, but pledged to hand over some powers. He had been widely expected to stand aside. Instead, his announcement has left uncertainty and confusion, analysts say. Mass protest marches are expected to get under way following Friday prayers at midday (1000 GMT). On Friday morning, there was a stand-off outside the offices of state TV, with troops sealing off the building and keeping back a large crowd.

It may be the bedrock of civilisation, a couple sharing the matrimonial bed, but the practice may also have serious health consequences. Sharing a bed usually involves snoring, pulling the duvet, turning - all things that can interfere with a good night's sleep. Lack of sleep or poor quality sleep, in turn, has been linked to a variety of serious health conditions, including heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, cancer and diabetes. While scientists are unsure of why exactly we need sleep, it is clear that not getting enough sleep upsets the body's internal clock and can have a detrimental effect on your health. Only recently, a US study found that lack of sleep appears to disrupt hormones that regulate appetite, which may contribute to growing obesity. Another study found that sleep disruption affects hormones and proteins which may then affect the body in ways that increase its susceptibility to colon and breast cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Though these studies do not offer conclusive proof of the harmful effects of disrupted sleep, anyone who has shared a bed with a fidgety partner knows how a poor night's sleep can follow. So what can you do to make the third of your day you spend in bed restful? Well, you could sleep in separate beds. But you may reasonably enjoy sharing a bed, and even if you did consider a separate bed, this may be perceived extravagant by your partner. Or course, you might not have a bed to spare, and are stuck with sharing one. What to do? Here are some helpful tips to make sharing a bed more pleasant and easier on your sleep.

Change the mattress

Often a person shifting in bed will wake the other because the soft mattress will jiggle or the bed will creak. A firmer mattress will not be as disruptive as a soft one and, in any case, it's better for your back.

Get a bigger bed

Most people sharing a bed end up with less personal space, in proportion, than a baby in a cot. The close quarters mean that it is very easy for one partner to disrupt the other's sleep by shifting in the bed. See if you can get a slightly bigger bed, with a better mattress.

Separate duvets

The battle for the duvet is often a source of marital discord and interrupted sleep; get separate, one person duvets, and you can regulate how you're keeping warm. This is also true of the bedroom ambient temperature. Try to agree to a level that is suitable to both - not too cold and not too hot, and make sure the room is well ventilated.

Snoring

If your partner snores, you may well force them to sleep in another room! However, if this is not the case, this may motivate them and you to discover its causes. Snoring can be caused by age, being overweight, alcohol, medicines, sleeping position, smoking, allergies or a host of other issues. While there are no simple treatments, it is worth looking into it, for your and your partner's health.

Europe's top 20 football clubs earned more than four billion euros (£3.4bn) between them last season, bucking the financial downturn and leaving them well equipped to comply with UEFA's financial fair play rules. Deloitte's football money league showed an unchanged top six with Real Madrid and Barcelona leading the way for the second successive year. Real's revenue last season was 438.6 million euros, up from 401.4 in 2008-09, while Barcelona made 398.1 and will see a substantial rise after securing a 165-million euro, five-year shirt sponsorship deal - the first time the club has had a paid-for shirt sponsor having carried the UNICEF logo. Manchester United, who topped the first six editions of the money league from 1996-97, are third with 349.8 million euros. Bayern Munich are fourth and there are five more Premier League clubs in the top 12 with Arsenal (5th), Chelsea (6th), Liverpool (8th), Manchester City (11th) and Champions League newcomers Tottenham Hotspur (12th). City were the big climbers, up from 20th (152.8 euros to 102.2), and they and Tottenham are both likely to move into the top 10 next year. "On-pitch performance and participation in the Champions League are essential in maintaining a top spot in the money league," Alan Switzer, director in Deloitte's sports business group, told Reuters. "Increased TV revenues tend to also gain rival clubs so the main way for clubs to climb the table is through matchday revenue, particularly a new stadium. "That is what happened when Arsenal moved from Highbury to The Emirates and if lifted them from around 13th to fifth. "If Tottenham and to a lesser extent West Ham United were to move into the Olympic stadium it would have a significant impact on their revenues." "The figures show the continued resilience of football's top clubs in the global economic downturn and the top clubs proved themselves well-placed to meet these economic challenges," Switzer said. Commenting on the potential implications of UEFA's financial fair play rules, which come into force from next year, Deloitte sports group director Paul Rawnsley said: "Outside exceptional circumstances, such as investment in stadia or the arrival of new owners, FFP will require clubs to balance their books, ensuring expenditure does not significantly exceed revenue over time. "Therefore, the strong showing of English clubs in the money league provides encouragement about the future competitive health of English football." Switzer added: "We haven't done the sums yet to establish whether clubs satisfy the fair play rules but they have known about them for a long time and we're confident that they will be coming up with strategies to deal with them." The revenue figures on the list exclude transfer fees and sales-related taxes.

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Millions of people are facing hunger and an uncertain future as a drought continues to ravage the region. Millions of people in northern Kenya are facing hunger and an uncertain future as a drought continues to destroy their crops and livestock. The drought is also taking its toll on the population's health and the number of malnourished and ill, increases by the day. And there seems to be little respite. With no rains forecast over the next three months and the government saying that the country's food reserves are dwindling fast, some in this region might not make it through. Al Jazeera's Mohammed Adow reports from Turkana, in Kenya.

BUENA PARK, California, USA -- A Huntington Beach man who died Saturday 5th February, 2011 afternoon after crashing his motorcycle into a parked pickup truck in Buena Park has been identified as 26 year-old Maurice Mwaura Kamande. Kamande was travelling westbound in the 8500 block of Bluebell Drive around 11:40 a.m. when he veered for unknown reasons and struck the back of the parked vehicle, Buena Park Sgt. Mike Lovchik said. Kamande, who was wearing his helmet and other protective gear, was treated at the scene by the Orange County Fire Authority and paramedics. He was reported dead at UCI Medical Center in Orange at 12:14 p.m. There is no indication that alcohol or drugs were involved in the accident, which is under ongoing investigation. Contact the writer: 714-704-3719 jterrell@ocregister.com

It is with humble acceptance of God’s will we announce the untimely death of Maurice Mwaura Kamande through a tragic accident which occurred on Saturday 5th February 2011 in Orange County California USA.

He was the son of Joseph Kamande Mwaura and Jane Wanjiru Mwaura of Juja. Dear brother of Jackie Njeri Mwaura formerly of Miami, Florida, Nelly Mwaura Greene of Rancho California, and Caroline Nduta Mwaura of Orange County, California, USA. He was uncle of Tyler and Jordyn Greene. He was brother-in-law of Marc Greene of USA. He was a nephew and cousin to many.

Family and Friends are meeting daily at his father’s residence in JuJa, next to JKUAT from 5.00pm, and at St. Andrews Church Nairobi from Tuesday 8 th November 2011 from 5.30pm, for funeral arrangement and transportation of the body from USA.

Maurice will be laid to rest at Family home in Muruka Location, Kandara district.

A bank account has been setup for all who would like to contribute financially. We want to send our brother home and every little bit counts. We have set-up an account at Bank of America -A/c #2928155688 under Carolyne Mwaura. We truly appreciate your prayers and support.

"Words spoken are very important. They are alive and remain alive even when you are dead. That is why curses are real and affects people. Be careful of your words. Many people today are in problems because of the words they spoke and forgotten." - Ghanaian preacher, William Duncan.

A female Belgian politician has told the wives of MPs to ban sex until the country forms a government. Senator Marleen Temmerman said spouses should ‘keep their legs crossed’ to bring an end to the deadlock that has lasted 240 days, urging 'the spouses of all negotiators to withhold sex until a deal is reached'. ‘It worked in Kenya – a week after wives stopped having sex, a deal was on the table,’ said Ms Temmerman, a qualified gynaecologist. In 2009, women's movements in Kenya called for a general sex strike after a conflict between the country's president and prime minister threatened to plunge it into chaos. Belgium is poised to break the 249-day record held by Iraq for the nation to spend the longest time without a government. Ms Temmerman's call comes on the heels of news that a man with a low IQ has been banned from having sex by a High Court judge. Claiming his ‘vigorous sex drive’ to be inappropriate, the 41-year-old's local council launched legal proceedings to restrict his relationship with a man. Known only as 'Alan', officials said the man's IQ of 48 and his ‘moderate’ learning difficulties meant he did not understand what he was doing and did not have the mental capacity to know about the health risks of his relationship.

Surprisingly, sterling has been the best-performing major currency so far this year. It’s up against the US dollar and the euro, as well as against last year's strongest currencies - the Swiss franc, Japanese yen and Aussie dollar. This is great news for pensioners and those living off savings held in sterling. You could be getting the best rates for two years. But for the thousands who had given up and are just about to head home, it won’t be welcome unless they took steps to lock into the best rates for their local currency last year when the pound was struggling.

Part of the boost has been a growing belief that the UK may be the first major economy to raise interest rates. The Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee meets tomorrow and faces a difficult decision. The jump in oil prices caused by the unrest in Egypt and neighbouring countries will fuel inflation, already at worrying levels. Yet a hike in rates may damage the fragile economy. If interest rates are kept on hold again this week we may see a temporary dip in the pound, but the majority view is that the pound could stay strong in the medium to long term. Both the pound and the euro have had a good run so far this year, but signs are that the euro may have run out of steam. It fell against the US dollar and the pound this week, with further falls expected. The market was shaken at the start of the week by a larger than expected drop in German industrial orders. Weakness in the German recovery helps push the prospect of an EU interest rate rise further away. In addition, reports of infighting among the 17 member nations of the currency bloc over the best way to deal with the debt crisis have kept the euro on the back foot. A French and German push for a comprehensive package of reforms to address the crisis has met with opposition and jeopardised plans of achieving a comprehensive new bailout regime by the March target.

Greece’s finances are currently centre stage with officials from the International Monetary Fund , the European Commission , and European Central Bank (CBSU.PK - news) in Athens this week. They will be deciding if Greece has done enough in terms of restructuring its economy to get a further €15 billion - the next instalment of the bailout plan agreed last March. Greece has spoken out against Germany’s latest proposals saying it gives the EU too much power to interfere with national constitutions. Other troubled nations - Portugal, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Austria and Ireland (Berlin: IIK.BE - news) - have also raised objections. They argue Germany and France are going too far in attempting to exert control over sensitive issues such as taxes, pensions and wages. “Getting 17 member nations to agree on a unified retirement age, public sector wages and harmonising welfare systems may be harder to implement than the intended reforms," said Vimal Popat of Cambridgefx . “The European economic policy crisis is in danger of turning into a political one if member nations cannot reach an ultimate resolution and this uncertainty is likely to impact the currency even further. Therefore, the euro’s reasonably strong performance so far this year seems, in my opinion, unsustainable.” In contrast, the UK, while facing similar pressures to the eurozone, has a distinct advantage with only a single monetary programme to follow. UK fiscal policy has, so far at least, impressed the markets. According to Chris Saint, senior currency analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown , both sterling and the euro have been boosted so far this year by “a cautiously optimistic mood that the European sovereign debt crisis can be contained”. The events of the past week however have been a reminder that these problems are not going to disappear any time soon. “So with the UK’s banking sector seemingly on a surer footing there appears to be further scope for sterling to make up ground against the euro," he adds.

“This would offer some relief to embattled expats still needing to exchange sterling to cover overseas living expenses.” Jeremy Cook, chief economist at World First (FSTC.OB - news) is cautiously optimistic: “Sterling has been the best performer of the G10 currencies this year so far. However, while I see sterling moving higher over the course of the year, it will not be in a straight line and considerable risks to both the UK economy and sterling remain. "The increase in sterling is an obvious benefit to the pension pots and the savings accounts of expats; a trend that we do not expect to see alter in 2011 although the inflationary pressures in the UK economy will have seen the value of these savings diminish in real terms. “Although we believe the trend is upwards for the pound I would advise those funding themselves from a UK-based pension or savings account to look into protecting themselves against potential losses.“ Michael Derks of FXPro feels the growing possibility of an interest rate hike is helping to lift the pound: “The UK may be the first major advanced economy to start tightening monetary policy, in response to persistent and rising inflation. As a result, the expected timing for the first interest rate hike by the Bank of England has been brought forward quite significantly. “At the start of the year, the widespread expectation was that sterling would struggle again this year, with the economy likely to be weighed down by both the harshest cuts to public spending for more than a generation and a continued squeeze on real incomes. However, for the most part, the economy seems to be weathering the fiscal onslaught reasonably well.” Charles Purdy, director of Smart (SMAR.JK - news) Currency Exchange , also feels a UK interest rate hike may come sooner rather than later: “Inflation is becoming a major problem, certainly in the UK. This may force the Bank of England's hand to start increasing interest rates earlier than it wants. If they did, it would be sterling-supportive and as such be very helpful in reducing imported inflation.”

He also argues that the scale of the debt problem faced by the eurozone favours the relative strength of sterling. “In the euro zone the level of funds that needs to be raised in the current year exceeds €800 billion. The Stability Fund is only a fraction of this amount and as such would need to be increased very significantly if it was to become a longer term solution. The euro is therefore in a more uncertain position than sterling given the diversity of the problem,” said Purdy. Christina Weisz, director of Currency Solutions , comments: “Anyone looking to transfer funds between the UK and Eurozone last year had to manage an 11 per cent currency fluctuation and for anyone living off pensions and overseas salaries, this variation was huge. "The UK has benefited from good export and manufacturing figures which have in part been attributed to the weak pound. When interest rates are raised we may see sterling gain further ground against a basket of major currencies. “The eurozone has seen a mixed story. Sovereign debt, spiralling unemployment and subsequent civil unrest have plagued the weakest members. "The recovery of the euro is unlikely to be smooth and positive stories from France and Germany will need to be matched by a period of calm from the struggling nations.” Simon Smith of FXPro agrees that both sterling and the euro continue to face uncertainty: “Both face fairly substantial and contrasting risks. For sterling, it’s that the fiscal austerity does impact the economy and lead to a further slowdown in growth. For the eurozone, it’s that the changes to the European Financial Stability Facility do not avoid the likelihood of some sort of debt restructuring in Greece and also in Ireland.” Of course currency movements are affected by the wider world. The unrest in North Africa and the Middle East has increased inflationary pressures - oil is now above $100 a barrel - and raised the spectre of major trade disruptions should the Suez (Paris: FR0000120529 - news) canal be closed.

Whistleblowers' testimony concerning banned restraint technique known as 'carpet karaoke' given after Jimmy Mubenga death The multinational security company hired by the government to deport refused asylum seekers was warned repeatedly by its own staff that potentially lethal force was being used against deportees, an investigation by the Guardian can reveal. Details of how some G4S guards developed a dangerous technique for restraining deportees by bending them in aircraft seats is disclosed in official testimony drawn up by four whistle-blowers from the company. Their evidence was secretly submitted to the home affairs select committee in the aftermath of the death of Jimmy Mubenga, an Angolan man who died while being forcibly restrained on a flight from Heathrow in October. The previously unseen testimony reveals that G4S managers were repeatedly alerted that refused asylum seekers who became disruptive on flights were being "forced into submission" with their heads placed between their legs. The technique, which is strictly prohibited because it could result in a form of suffocation known as positional asphyxia, was nicknamed "carpet karaoke" by G4S guards. The whistle-blowers also allege that staff were not trained properly, criticised for showing compassion to refused asylum seekers, particularly children, and ostracised if they ever voiced concerns. They state that some guards went years without receiving official Home Office accreditation. Their evidence contradicts testimony given to parliament by senior G4S executives who were summoned to appear before the home affairs select committee following Mubenga's death. One senior G4S official told MPs during a the hearing in November that he was "not aware" that his staff had ever raised concerns about any aspect of the removals process. The chair of the committee, Keith Vaz, said he was "extremely concerned" about the allegations, which the committee would review before deciding what action to take. "Where services as important as this are contracted out and where there could be a danger to lives, it is vital that the practices of the company are fully scrutinised."

"If any warnings were given about restraint techniques being used, I would have expected these to have been taken heed of in the first instance." The evidence submitted by the whistle-blowers, who include three former employees as well as the company's existing charter operations manager, provides a detailed record of written and verbal complaints to the company since mid-2004. According to their testimony, G4S received repeated warnings from staff, whose complaints included that training had to change "before there was a serious positional asphyxiation incident resulting in a detainee's death". One letter, expressing frustration that G4S was failing to take action and allowing inappropriate force to be used against refused asylum seekers, stated: "I urge you meet this problem head on before the worst happens." It warned that bosses of the company were "playing Russian roulette with detainees' lives". In his evidence to parliament, the letter's author, currently on sick leave from his job as G4S charter operations manager, said: "I am greatly saddened to say that despite my protestations these illegal and extremely dangerous techniques continued to be used by some who cared little for the welfare and lives of those they had in their custody." He added the dangerous restraint techniques were used for a period "with the tacit approval of senior managers who catastrophically failed to halt its use and spread".

G4S discovered after Mubenga's death it had lost its Home Office contract – thought to be worth more than £100m – to conduct overseas removals, but said the decision was unrelated to the asylum seeker's death. The three G4S guards arrested in connection with Mubenga's death have been bailed to reappear next month. The contract will be taken over in May by a rival security firm, Reliance. Under European employment regulations, Reliance has been compelled to offer employment to all G4S staff involved in removals. Meanwhile G4S continues to hold contracts with several government departments estimated to be worth £600m. It manages four prisons, three immigration removal centres and escorts around half of all prisoners to and from court. G4S said in a statement it was aware that allegations had been submitted to parliament, but added that, despite requesting the details, it had not yet received the information and was therefore unable to respond. "We would obviously be keen to investigate these allegations but will not be able to conduct a review or take any action without seeing the evidence." The company added that appropriate action including disciplinary action is taken when staff conduct is found to have been inappropriate. "The welfare of detainees in our custody is our top priority and we take any allegations of mistreatment extremely seriously."

A Kenyan man has passed away in Rosehill, Oxford, UK. The late Mr. Kenneth Githua, 40 of Oxford passed away in his house in Oxford on Monday 31st January, 2011. He was a brother to Mwihaki also from Oxford. Funeral arrangements are ongoing daily as from Tuesday 1st February, 2011 at Ridgefield community centre OX4 3BY from 6m-9pm. Report from coroners sources says it was heart attack. Those wishing to help can do so through Santander Bank (Former Abbey National Bank), Account No. 82817716, Sort Code 090127, Account name: Ms Susan Kamonyo. For more information please contact Mwihaki 07737755793, Pastor Alice: 07947811975, Pastor Francis07830200041, Wanja: 07915605280.

The memorial service of the late Kenneth Githua will take place on Monday the 14th February 2011 at the New Testament Church of God, Between Towns Road, Oxford, OX4 3LX as from 10:00a.m to 13:00p.m.

Witchcraft is a practice many continue to shun especially with the embrace of modernity, but that may only be in the urban set up. Back in the rural set up, witchcraft is a practice many still believe to be an important proponent in their everyday life. And that is why when two men appeared in Tala, Kangundo with distended bellies that had no logical explanation, many were quick to term them as be-witched. But, were they? It turns out that this was a result of them having allegedly stolen a phone whose owner sought the services of a Witchdoctor. - VIDEO

Supporters of the northern Sudanese Forum of Just Peace party gesture and shout in celebration before slaughtering a cow after the Southern Sudan Referendum Commission (SSRC) announced the official voting result of a referendum for secession, in Khartoum February 7, 2011. South Sudan voted overwhelmingly to declare independence in final results of a referendum announced on Monday, opening the door to Africas newest state and a fresh period of uncertainty for the fractured region. Sudans President Omar Hassan al-Bashir earlier said he accepted the result, allaying fears that the split could reignite conflict over the control of the souths oil reserves. On right South Sudan leader, Salva Kiir, arrives for a special African Union meeting on Sudan, on January 31, 2011 in Addis Ababa. Kiir said that he looked forward to the international community confirming his regions referendum in which voters chose overwhelmingly to secede from the North. African leaders at the summit here focused on the continents longer-term conflicts in Sudan and Somalia in the shadow of Egypts popular uprising and the political crisis in Ivory Coast. AFP/Getty Images

Mr. Seed and family visited Kenya last month of January 2011. We are staying in Milimani/Lavington area - Dayko Courts. Very nice apartments with a Swimming Pool. The owner Mr. Mugo lives in London. Next time you visit Kenya, you can book the apartments as they are quite good. His contact in UK is 07985332089 - MORE

Dear parents, please note that its against the law to distribute photos of children. Most teenagers have adopted a behaviour of 'sexting' sending photos of their full or half naked bodies and sharing with their friends. This act is very serious and is considered as child pornography. Any one caught sharing such photos risk charges as a child sex offender facing imprisonment and life time register as a sex offender. Warn your teenagers and keep watch of what is in their phones. They could ruin their future out of ignorance. Kindly share this information with other parents. Please note if you are registered as a sex offender you cannot work with children departments.

Elizabeth Cheruto Kogo is still fighting for her life at the Wesley Medical university in Wichita, Kansas. Elizabeth underwent surgery to remove the claw part of the hammer that was lodged in her skull. Ms Kogo, 29, was attacked on January 23rd 2011 by her boyfriend Gideon Kibiwott Maiyo in Wichita. She was struck with a hammer several times. Ms Kogo has been moved from the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) of the hospital to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and recovering from surgery. On Monday, January 31st 2011, Elizabeth opened her eyes and had minor hand movements. However the doctors say that this may not mean much and it would not be indicative of her recovery and are hesitant to raise too much hope on this single moment. With Ms Kogo still in hospital, her mother is trying to travel from Kenya to Wichita to be with Elizabeth during this trying moment. Those willing to donate to enable the next of kim meet her mum’s travel expenses as well as cater for other personal expenses while she in the US, you can do so through: Paypal Acct: elizabethkogofund@gmail.com. For further information, you can contact Beatrice Busienei : 316-519-5143, Ezekiel Bii: 316-519-5289 - Jambonewspot

A London student has died of a heart attack after having an illegal buttock-enhancement injection in a hotel room in America. The 20-year-old, named in reports as Claudia Adusei, suffered chest pains after allegedly being injected with "industrial silicone" which is normally used as a sealant. Increasing numbers of women are undergoing the painful procedure because they want fuller and firmer looking buttocks like stars such as Jennifer Lopez or Beyoncé Knowles. A former Miss Argentina died after a similar operation. Ms Adusei is said to have travelled to America with three friends to have the procedure, which can cost up to £2,000, in room 425 of the Hampton Inn hotel in Philadelphia. US detectives are said to be working on the theory that cheaper industrial silicone was used during the unlicensed procedure on Ms Adusei rather than medical grade silicone used in breast implant surgery. It is believed that one of the women she had travelled with to Philadelphia had paid £1,120 for a hip enhancement using the same technique. According to reports, Ms Adusei had planned to return to the UK on Saturday while two of the women in her group flew to New York to attend a birthday party.

Nairobi, Wednesday 9th February, 2011. 10 people died Wednesday morning in a road accident involving a bus and trailer near Salgaa center along the Nakuru-Eldoret highway. The accident occurred at 3 am when the bus belonging to the crown bus company collided head on with the trailer which was heading to Nairobi from Kampala. Speaking to journalists at the accident scene , Rift Valley deputy PPO Elias Oduori said 8 passengers died on the spot while two died while undergoing treatment at the Nakuru Provincial Hospital. Nine others among them four women are hospitalised in critical condition. A nurse at the hospital John Ochola said the rest were treated and charged. Oduori said the driver of bus which had 30 passengers on board was overtaking a small vehicle when he collided with the trailer which was transporting wheat bran to Nairobi. According the truck driver who is receiving treatment at the hospital he was shocked to see the bus driver overtake at the black spot adding that he could not avoid the collision. The stretch has been identified by the police as major black spot. More details to follow.............

Chancellor George Osborne has hit the UK banks with a surprise £800 million tax raid as he announced the Government's new bank levy was to be made permanent. The unexpected move - unveiled by Mr Osborne on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme - was greeted with shock and anger by the banks, with some bank chiefs reported to be "livid". The British Bankers' Association (BBA) accused the Chancellor of "changing the tax goalposts" and warned it would make the UK a less attractive place for businesses to operate. The increase was dismissed by shadow chancellor Ed Balls as a "damp squib" intended to deflect attention away from the Government's failure to secure a wider agreement with the banks on bonuses and business lending. However Mr Osborne insisted he expected to make an announcement "in the next week" on the Government's so-called Project Merlin talks with the banks, following months of sparring between the two sides. He said the announcement on the bank levy should pave the way for a deal to curb bonus pay-outs while increasing lending to cash-starved small and medium-sized firms. It's very important to get all the components in place. Today's announcement clears the way so now banks know where they are on taxation. "I'm still confident we can secure a deal with the banks on seeing an increase in lending to small businesses and see that bonuses are lower this year than last year." The BBA however criticised the Treasury for making last-minute adjustments to the levy which was announced in last year's Budget. "The levy itself is complex and will hit our most global banks hardest as they operate and pay tax across national boundaries," it said in a statement. Mr Osborne said he was scrapping the lower introductory rate originally planned for 2011 as the banking sector is returning to health faster than expected. The Treasury had planned to phase the levy in, with banks paying a lower introductory rate on their balance sheets since the start of the year. But the tax will be increased in March and April to offset this before settling at 0.075% a month. The tax, which was introduced on January 1, will now raise the full £2.5 billion target in 2011 and 2012 before rising to £2.6 billion for the following years.

Dubai has experienced reduced spending, more housing vacancies and lower real estate prices, in a downward spiral that has left parts of Dubai — once hailed as the economic superpower of the Middle East — looking like a ghost town. Dubai, unlike Abu Dhabi or nearby Qatar and Saudi Arabia, does not have its own oil, and had built its reputation on real estate, finance and tourism.

Nairobi (Reuters) - Kenyans abroad sent home a record $641.9 million in 2010, a 5 percent increase from the previous year, central bank said on Tuesday.
Remittances are the fourth-largest source of foreign exchange in east Africa's biggest economy after tea, horticulture and tourism. Kenyans sent a total $65.6 million in December, the highest amount sent in a single month during the whole year. The funds sent home are typically used on investments such as real estate and equities, or to help families pay for bills such as medical expenses or school fees. Remittances added up to $609.2 million in 2009 and $611.24 million in the previous year.

Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) is considering establishing a transformer manufacturing plant to accelerate access to electricity in rural areas. The power distributor has invited a consultant to study if Kenya’s economy and that of East Africa can support the project. The Government has a goal to accelerate the access rate of rural population by about 40 per cent by 2020. The firm said in an expression of interest notice that this growth rate would see an increase in the number of transformers required by KPLC. "There is therefore need to investigate if the overall economy... and East African region can support the establishment of a transformer manufacturing and Assembly plant in Kenya," it said. Currently, electricity is accessible to less than 20 per cent of Kenyans and just about five per cent of rural population. The company plans to upgrade and expand its network over the next four years at a cost of about $500 million (Sh40.5 billion).

Two teenage sisters who plotted their father’s murder have been condemned as ‘devious’ and ‘Judas-like’ as they were jailed for life. Ashleigh and Holly Robinson recruited their boyfriends to stab their retired antiques dealer father, Antoni, as he slept in his bed at home. The girls wanted to steal cash and jewellery, worth just £900, from the 61-year-old’s bedroom safe. Jailing all four for life, Mr Justice Griffith Williams said: ‘It is to be hoped that in his dying moments he was at least spared the awful realisation it was his own daughters who were a party to his murder. ‘Two daughters who were, in fact, scornful of him, two daughters who had appealed for his kindness – two daughters who, Judas-like, wormed their way back into his affections.’ Mr Robinson’s relationship with his killer daughters had been ‘fractious’ for six years although he had lavished money upon them, Mold crown court was told. But Ashleigh, 19, and her 16-year-old sister thought he kept ‘cold hard cash’ and jewellery in his bedroom safe. He was stabbed 15 times in his face, neck and upper body when the four murderers went into his bedroom at his home in Old Colwyn, North Wales, on July 7 last year. Ashleigh’s boyfriend, Gordon Harding, 20, caused the fatal wounds with a knife handed to him by Holly’s boyfriend, 19-year-old Sacha Roberts. All four killers then spent 15 minutes discussing what lies they would tell rather than calling an ambulance. They also then plotted with the sisters’ mother, Joanne Barr, to lie to police about what had happened. But hours before the murder, Ashleigh had texted her mother the message: ‘I am going to kill him.’ Ashleigh Robinson and Harding, both from Old Colwyn, were told they would serve a minimum 22 years, with Holly, from Colwyn Bay, given at least 18 years and Roberts 20. Barr was jailed for four years for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. Afterwards, the killers’ step-sister Claire Robinson said: ‘This can only be described as a devious, greedy plot made more horrific by the fact it was perpetrated by relatives we thought we knew.’

The founder of a New York TV station set up to promote tolerance and understanding has been convicted of beheading his wife in the studio. Muzzammil Hassan did not deny killing his wife Aasiyah, but had claimed he was the victim of ongoing domestic violence. However, the jury took just an hour to reject his claim that the killing was justified because of the "abuse" he described. The couple ran a Muslim-oriented TV station in Buffalo which they hoped would promote cultural understanding following the September 11 attacks. Hassan, who defended himself in court, was arrested in February 2009 after walking into a police station and telling officers his wife was dead. Mrs Hassan's body was then found at the TV station they started in 2004. Prosecutors said the 46-year-old bought two hunting knives less than an hour before the attack, then lay in wait inside the studios. CCTV captured some of the assault in which the victim was stabbed more than 40 times in the face, back and chest and then beheaded. Hassan had been given divorce papers just a week before his wife's body was found. Before they were dismissed, his lawyers denied Hassan's cultural background had played a role in the killing. He will be sentenced on March 9.

East African Cables (EAC) will on Wednesday morning announce a 38 per cent drop in profits for the year ended December 2010 due to poor performance of its Tanzanian unit and high metal prices. The cable maker will announce a profit of Sh183.8 million compared to Sh296 million in the same period last year— making it among the few firms listed at the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE) to announce a drop in profits. Growing optimism over the recovery of Kenya’s economy has helped corporate Kenya announce double and triple digit profits, a departure from the flat earnings witnessed in 2008 and 2009. The cable maker—which serves the regional market — said its Kenyan unit was strong and profitable, but added that its Tanzanian unit was suffering from low sales to electricity supplier Tanzania Electric Company (Tanesco) and non-payment of deliveries that saw it write off debts. - Daily Nation.

Over 40 percent of children in Kenya are addicted to the internet social networks,'' a report by Cradle reveals. The statistics show that children's online activities include downloading and listening to music using itunes, playing games and social networking in face book without revealing their identities, real names, residence, and age. Speaking Tuesday during the Cradle' launch, a children's foundation aimed at promoting justice for children, the initiative manager, Brian Weke said the internet is rapidly become a central activity in the lives of children, a practice that exposes them to danger. It also emerged that most of the children respondents accessed the internet at home through a computer or a phone hence seeking help from the social sites instead of adults. An exploratory study conducted in Nairobi County last year confirmed that 53.7 percent of males frequented network social sites compared to 46.25 percent females. The study further revealed that most of the children accessing the network social sites had been subjected to sexual suggestions or pornographic materials, received threats from peers or got into feigned opposite sex relationships which eventually got them into difficulties. Speaking at the same function, Nominated MP Milly Odhiambo emphasized the need to honor the Kenya Communication Act which seeks to respect the rights of children by guarding them against derogatory remarks on broadcast media. Energy And Information communications committee chairman, James Rege said the government has put in place legislations to curb the internet menace against children while CCK has invented a monitoring system to track down activities by children in the cyberspace, and the introduction of computers lessons in teachers' colleges so that they can assist the young learners. Cradle is a children's foundation aimed at promoting Justice for children and was conceptualized in 2009 to create awareness on the use of ICT in children and identify resultant problems among children.

Oxford University appears to be paving the way to raise fees towards the maximum level of £9,000 per year. Academics and students took part in a university meeting about how much to charge in tuition fees from 2012. Pro-vice chancellor Tony Monaco said Oxford needed to charge at least £8,000 to replace cuts but students said poorer applicants would be put off. Cambridge University's working group on fees has already recommended charging £9,000 for all its courses. The move raises the prospect of other leading universities setting maximum fees. The debate held by about 100 members of Oxford University's governing body was staged in the historic Sheldonian Theatre, with the closing speeches accompanied by shouts from protesters gathered outside the building. Speeches from gown-wearing academics, below a ceiling painting depicting truth expelling ignorance, examined the financial, moral and social consequences of raising fees.

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has today recommended a new shorter list of occupations eligible for migration under Tier 2 of the points-based system. As part of its review of the immigration system, the government raised the threshold for Tier 2 visas to 'graduate level' and commissioned the MAC to examine which occupations should qualify. The government asked that the MAC use the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) level 4 and above as the relevant benchmark. This will reduce the number of occupations qualifying for Tier 2 visas by 71, down from 192 to 121. The shorter list of occupations means that Tier 2 applicants will only be able to apply for jobs covering the most skilled 39 per cent of the labour market rather than the current 56 per cent. Chair of the Migration Advisory Committee, Professor David Metcalf, said:

'Skilled foreign workers make a valuable contribution to the British economy but, in the context of limits on migration, it is essential that the immigration system is designed to select those migrants we need the most.

'We have recognised this by ensuring our recommendations will allow the most skilled to continue to come and work here.'

Among the occupations which would still qualify for entry under Tier 2 of the points-based system are nurses, teaching professionals, civil engineers and finance and investment analysts. Occupations which were qualified as skilled to the old level but are not to the new one include retail managers, hairdressing and beauty salon managers, laboratory technicians, and estate agents.

Southern Sudan is set to become the world's newest nation after official results showed a landslide vote for independence in last month's referendum. Hundreds of people danced and screamed in celebration in the main square of the southern capital Juba, as they watched the announcement on TV screens. According to referendum officials in Khartoum, 98.83% of voters chose secession from the north. The widely predicted result paves the way for the division of Africa’s largest nation, and heralds a new period of upheaval in a country ravaged by decades of civil war. But Sudan's President Omar al Bashir - who opposed the split - calmed fears of renewed conflict by quickly indicating his acceptance of the result. "Today, we received these results and we accept and welcome these results because they represent the will of the southern people," he said. US President Barack Obama congratulated the people of Southern Sudan "for a successful and inspiring referendum". About four million southern Sudanese cast their votes in what was the culmination of the 2005 peace deal. The mainly Christian south has been pushing for liberation from the largely Muslim north for a generation, regarding its leadership as oppressive. Those voting described a vote for secession as a vote for "freedom", but there were fears that the government in Khartoum would fight to hold on to the oil-producing south. The division of the oil and the position of the borders of the new state are among a raft of issues still to be negotiated ahead of the south officially gaining independence on July 9. There is also the question of citizenship of the new state, which could lead to conflict in some areas where nomadic tribes roam between north and south. There is still the potential for violence to flare along the border region, where forces of both the north and south are massed. But Mr Bashir, wanted for war crimes in Darfur by the International Criminal Court, has surprised the international community by adopting the role of peacemaker. Both he and the president-in-waiting of the south, Salva Kiir, have promised to work together for a smooth transition. "The borders between north and south will exist only on paper," said Mr Kiir, who once led an army of fighters in the south's battle against the north. British Prime Minister David Cameron welcomed the announcement, saying: "This moment is testament to the leaders in both north and south Sudan who ensured a credible and peaceful process." President Obama similarly.

President Mwai Kibaki has sent a message of goodwill and best wishes to the people of Southern Sudan following the official announcement that they had overwhelmingly voted to form their own State in the recent referendum. In his message, President Kibaki also congratulated both the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) for conducting a peaceful referendum and for adhering to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). President Kibaki singled out the contribution of President Omar al Bashir, Southern Sudan Leader Salva Kiir for their commitment to the CPA and recalled the immense and heroic contribution of the late John Garang who played a pivotal role in the peace process. The President said Kenya is proud to have been an honest broker of the CPA and would wish to see a cordial relationship between North and South Sudan in the years to come. "As a country, we wish to encourage both parties to maintain peace during the transitional period, ahead of the proclamation of a new state in July," the President said. President Kibaki, at the same time, called on both parties to amicably resolve any outstanding issues including the matter on Abyei, saying he looked forward to working closely with both the North and South Sudan to ensure stability and development of the region in the years ahead. South Sudan voted overwhelmingly to declare independence in final results of a referendum announced on Monday, opening the door to Africa's newest state and a fresh period of uncertainty for the fractured region. Hundreds of south Sudanese danced, screamed and waved flags as the announcement was broadcast on a line of TV sets in a square in the centre of the southern capital Juba. A total of 98.83 percent of voters from Sudan's oil-producing south chose to secede from the north in last month's referendum, the chairman of the vote's organising commission Mohammed Ibrahim Khalil said.

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Suspended Higher Education minister William Ruto addresses a rally at Muliro Gardens in Webuye

Two Members of Parliament have called for Parliament's endorsement of suspended Education Minister William Ruto for the post of Prime Minister. The legislators, Cyrus Jirongo (Lugari) and Julius Kones (Konoin), argue that Raila Odinga no longer has the mandate to hold the position of Prime Minister since he has lost the support of a significant portion of members of Parliament. The National Accord and Reconciliation Act, which forms the basis of the coalition government, recognizes the leader of the party with a majority in Parliament as the legitimate candidate for the Premiership. Currently Mr. Odinga holds the post owing to ODM's numerical supremacy over PNU in Parliament. The legislators however called for a repeal of the accord to allow “for a leader with a large following of MPs to assume the position of Prime Minister." The duo spoke duo during a fund raiser in aid of Kimulot Educational Fund in Konoin constituency. Kones said circumstances had changed since the National Accord came into force in 2008 and said most MPs no longer support Mr Odinga. “Who should be the Prime Minister? Raila with 40 MPs or William Ruto with over 60 MPs,” he asked a crowd in his constituency on Saturday. The crowd roared back, “Ruto.” “The spirit of the accord has changed drastically. We call for the repeal of the National Accord and Reconciliation Accord to accommodate these changing circumstances," Kones said. He added: "Right now a Prime Minister with a minority following in parliament is blackmailing the government.” Kones supported calls by legislators from PNU to pull out of the coalition government saying they (ODM rebels) would support them in their quest. “We are ready to form a government of National Unity with the PNU side even if it means repealing the national accord,” he said. On his side Jirongo said Mr Odinga no longer enjoys his initial following and should not hold the position of Prime Minister. “You no longer have the following, why should you insist to be the Prime Minister?” he posed. Jirongo added: “Raila Odinga got the position of Prime Minister because of the strength of ODM at that time. Now he longer has that strength."

Those who seem insignificant also have their use to the society and its more important members.

Every person is endowed with certain ability and has his/her value to the community.

A woman from Northern Sudan cries after the announcement of the official voting results at the Friendship Hall in Khartoum February 7, 2011. South Sudan voted overwhelmingly to declare independence in final results of a referendum announced on Monday, opening the door to Africas newest state and a fresh period of uncertainty for the fractured region and on right a woman from Southern Sudan reacts after the announcement of the official voting results at the Friendship Hall in Khartoum February 7, 2011. South Sudan voted overwhelmingly to declare independence in final results of a referendum announced on Monday, opening the door to Africa's newest state and a fresh period of uncertainty for the fractured region - REUTERS

19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

20 He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.

21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

22 Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.

(Reuters) - Retail sales bounced back in January after a snow-hit December and house prices fell at a slower pace, surveys showed on Tuesday 8th February, 2011, suggesting the economy may have gathered some momentum following a shock contraction late last year. The British Retail Consortium said like-for-like retail sales rose by 2.3 percent in January, compared to a year before, the strongest growth since March. Total sales rose by 4.2 percent, compared to 1.5 percent in December. However, the trade body said growth at the start of this year was largely driven by big discounts and a rush to beat a rise in the VAT sales tax. It also compared to a weak reading in January 2010 when snow and ice badly disrupted trading. "Comparisons are with a feeble, snow-hit performance a year ago," said Stephen Robertson, BRC director general. "Growth this January was driven by a relatively short but strong burst of non-food buying early in the month." Another bout of bad weather in December contributed to a 0.3 percent fall in retail sales compared to a year earlier and was blamed by the government for part of the GDP contraction. A separate survey showed house prices in England and Wales fell in January, although the pace of decline eased for a third consecutive month. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors' seasonally adjusted house price index rose to -31 from -39 in December, its highest level since July and better than the forecast of -38. The two surveys underline the tricky balancing act facing the Bank of England as it tries to cut high inflation without damaging the fragile economic recovery. Economists expect the bank to leave interest rates at their record low of 0.5 percent on Thursday and postpone any rises until later this year to give the recovery time to strengthen. Prime Minister David Cameron said the government will not water down its deficit reduction plan, despite pressures on household budgets. In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph, he ruled out tax cuts at next month's budget. The government says it must cut the deficit to maintain the confidence of the markets and keep borrowing costs down. Demand for UK government debt will be tested at an auction of 1 billion pounds of 2022 index-linked gilts later on Tuesday.

The principals were meeting for the first time following a week of acrimony triggered by the announcement of the nominees for the positions of Chief Justice, Attorney General, Director of Public Prosecutions and Controller of Budget. But the talks ended in a stalemate and the two said they would accept Parliament’s decision. This dispute will be handled by the Finance, Trade and Planning Committee chaired by Nambale MP Chris Okemo (ODM), and the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee chaired by Ababu Namwamba (ODM). “On the issue of the nominations to fill State offices currently under consideration by Parliament, the two Principals agreed to respect the ongoing parliamentary process and its outcome,” said a Presidential Press Service statement. While agreeing with the PPS statement, the PM’s adviser, Mr Salim Lone, said the meeting did not reach an agreement on the names, but the two leaders were confident that the list before the two House committees will be rejected and returned to them for a fresh start that is in line with the requirements of the Constitution. Said Mr Lone: “There was no agreement on the list of nominations during the meeting. However, since Parliament had started the procedure of determining whether the nominations were constitutional, it cannot be stopped from outside.” President Kibaki and Mr Odinga who have come under local and international pressure to resolve the stand-off over the names, hastily assured the public that they would respect the provisions of the Constitution in any appointments to top State jobs.

“The two Principals assured Kenyans that they will observe the letter and spirit of the Constitution in implementation of the Constitution including the appointment to State Offices,” said the statement. Mr Odinga arrived at Harambee House at 12.15pm accompanied by PS Mohammed Isahakiah for the meeting that was expected to resolve the stalemate over the nominations, which the High Court has ruled as unconstitutional. The stalemate over the list was triggered two weeks ago, when President Kibaki nominated Court of Appeal Judge Alnashir Visram to become the next CJ, lawyers Githu Muigai (AG) and Kioko Kilukumi (DPP), stating that he had done so in consultation with the PM. The following day, on arrival from Addis Ababa, Mr Odinga denounced the names stating that he was not consulted. Last week, Mr Odinga repeated the same position in Parliament after VP Kalonzo Musyoka had given a detailed account of President Kibaki’s last minute efforts on January 28, 2011 to reach the PM in Ethiopia to seal the deal. The two principals were also on opposite ends when President Kibaki submitted the list of the nominees to National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende. Mr Odinga wrote a letter to the Speaker, which was also published in the daily papers, asking for the list to be rejected on the grounds that he was not consulted in line with the provisions of the Constitution. Last week, Mr Marende declined to make a ruling on the two letters and referred them to the Parliamentary committees of Justice and Legal Affairs and Finance and Planning. The Justice committee is chaired by Budalang’i MP Namwamba while Finance is headed by Nambale’s Mr Okemo. The teams on Monday started working to establish whether the correct procedure was followed before the nominations were announced. At the same time, Mr Lone said the PM was sure the list of the nominees will be rejected by the two House committees. “The PM is confident that Parliament will send back the nominations to the two principals. The President and the PM will then ensure that the constitutional requirements for the submission of such nominations is adhered to,” he said. However, sources in PNU, the President’s party, said they would push for Parliament to determine the fate of the nominees. Before the 12.20pm meeting, the President met a strong team of ministers, among them Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, to agree on the issues that he will put on the table when he meets the PM. – Daily Nation.

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Vladimir Putin is no stranger to being photographed taking part in macho pursuits. For his latest adventure, the Russian prime minister showed off his skills in his favourite sport judo.

The Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE) is all set to commission the Sh75 million broker back office (BBO) system next month. The system, which seeks to curb malpractices in the trading of shares, was acquired from India’s Chella Software last year. The bourse and experts from the supplier are training stockbrokerage personnel firms and investment banks to operate the system. The exercise, which started last week, involves training them on financial, accountancy and management matters. "Implementation of the system is going on. The vendors of the software are conducting the training and the implementation process," Mr Peter Mwangi, the NSE chief executive told the Financial Journal last week. "We expect to go live by the end of the first quarter (March)." Members of the stock exchange were free to choose between a centralised system, controlled by the NSE and an in-house system that is independent from the bourse. Most, however, opted for a centralised system with a view of cutting down on operational costs. It is understood that those who picked an independent BBO system will pay Sh8.5 million as installation and implementation fees in addition to monthly maintenance and licensing fees. Conversely, market intermediaries, who prefer a centralised system will only pay Sh2 million, excluding the monthly charges. The BBO system will be integrated in the management and accounting information systems of the market intermediaries. Chella Software is a leading vendor for large financial services firms in securities broking, investment management, market risk management and treasury operations. The system is expected to provide end-to-end automated solutions directly to individual brokerage firms with seamless integration to electronic trading, central depository and the national clearing and payment systems. The BBO system is also expected to support trading of equity and debt instruments with full Internet trading capability, centralised control and in-built risk management mechanisms across the entire trading process. Stockbrokers’ behind-the-scenes malpractices including unauthorised selling of clients’ shares is set to be a thing of the past. BBO will ensure buying and selling shares,will automatically be tracked by CMA and NSE. - The Standard.

Happiness is a voyage and not a destination. Have a look at this illustrations sent to us by Mrs. Pouline Kariuki from Alaska, USA - VIDEO

A beer so powerful just one gulp would push you over the drink-drive limit has gone on sale. Sink The Bismarck is believed to be the strongest beer in the world with a 41 per cent alcohol content. Brewed by Scottish firm BrewDog it costs £55 for a 330ml bottle. The drink, which works out as £95 per pint, has four times as many hops than ordinary beers, say its makers. The beer is supposed to be drunk in small quantities because it is so strong and has been designed with a screw top so it can be resealed. Now a pub in Birmingham has put the controversial beverage behind the bar. Nigel Barker, landlord at the Wellington, told the Birmingham Mail: 'It has to be drunk in moderation because of its strength but we have sold several bottles.' The taste for extra-strong beers has seen other brands appear on the market and an off licence close to the pub is selling one which is 'just' 32 per cent alcohol and also sells at £55 for a 330ml bottle. The high alcohol content means a 50ml serving would be the equivalent of consuming two glasses of wine. The label warns: 'This is an extremely strong beer; it should be enjoyed in small servings and with an air of aristocratic nonchalance - in exactly the same manner that you would enjoy a fine whisky, a Frank Zappa album or a visit from a friendly yet anxious ghost.' Harpal Rai, 34, owner of the Rai Wine Shops off-licence, said he has sold four bottles of the beer. But Jack Law, of Alcohol Focus, said the super strong drink was a 'cynical marketing ploy' which could encourage irresponsible drinking. He added: 'We want to know why a brewer would produce a beer almost as strong as whisky? The fashion for super-strength booze comes at the same time that the Government has ordered a crack down on binge drinking. Pub and club promotions that encourage drinking to excess will be banned in a retreat from a previous policy of liberalising licensing laws. Licensees face fines of up to £20,000 or up to six months in jail for offers such as 'All you can drink for £10', or 'Free drinks for women under 25'. But Harpal said the super strong beers are not aimed at the younger market and claimed they would not encourage irresponsible drinking. 'The beer is more for the discerning customer who likes quality and appreciates the drink,' he added. 'We tend to sell it more to the wealthier client, like doctors and lawyers, not only because of the price, but also for the taste too. 'They are brewed like a very good whisky hence the long wait in receiving the stock.' Managing director James Watt from BrewDog said: 'This beer is about pushing the boundaries, it is about taking innovation in beer to a whole new level.' He added that a beer such as Tactical Nuclear Penguin should be drunk in 'spirit-sized measures'.

A report by the New York Times says no one knows how bad things have become, though it is clear that tens of thousands have left, real estate prices crashed and scores of Dubai’s construction projects suspended or cancelled. But with the government unwilling to provide data, rumours are bound to flourish, damaging confidence and further undermining the economy.

Universities are to be given government approval to offer more places to students from poor backgrounds with lower A-level grades in order to transform the social mix on campuses. Vice-chancellors will be told that it is “valid and appropriate” to allocate places to pupils who achieve grades below their standard offer yet show academic potential. Some universities have already introduced such policies, and they were backed by Gordon Brown when he was Prime Minister, but this will be the coalition’s first formal endorsement of the practice, which the Government believes should become widespread. Ministers will say that they “welcome” such steps in a letter this week to the Office for Fair Access (Offa), which must approve each university’s plans to broaden its student intake.

President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga met at Harambee house to try and resolve the standoff over nominations to key constitutional offices. The Presidential Press Service confirmed that the principals discussed the names of the recent nominees currently before parliament among other issues. The PM arrived at Harambee House office accompanied by his permanent secretary Mr Mohammed Isahakia at 12.23pm local time. He emerged after the meeting shortly before 2pm and went away without talking to reporters. President Kibaki and Mr Odinga have been under pressure to agree on the appointments to avoid unnecessary tension and divisions in the country. President Kibaki on January 28 nominated Appeal judge Alnashir Visram as Chief Justice, law professor Githu Muigai as Attorney General, lawyer Kioko Kilukumi as Director of Public Prosecutions and parastatal chief William Kirwa as Controller of Budget. The appointments have been opposed by the Prime Minister who has insisted he was not consulted. The Judicial Service Commission, various interest groups, a section of ministers and MPs have declared the appointments unconstitutional. On Friday Speaker Kenneth Marende declined to make a ruling on the legality of President Kibaki's nomination of top judicial officials and instead directed the matter to two House committees - Justice and Legal Affairs and Finance Planning and Trade - to collect evidence, deliberate on the issue and report to the House at a special sitting this Thursday. The house committees were to meet Monday afternoon. The nominations also suffered a setback after the High Court on Friday ruled that it will be unconstitutional for any State organ to approve the nominees. Giving his ruling, Mr Justice Daniel Musinga said: "I am satisfied that the nominations were in breach of Article 27(3) of the Constitution that guarantees fundamental rights and freedom of women and men to equal treatment, including the right to equal opportunities in political, economic, cultural and social spheres." Justice Musinga noted that the Attorney-General conceded that the process ought to have received recommendations from the Judicial Service Commission as required by the Constitution but this did not happen.

Walls of fire are continuing to ravage the bush-fringed suburbs of Perth in Western Australia.

Rift Valley MPs allied to Eldoret North MP William Ruto have vowed to ensure the removal of Prime Minister Raila Odinga through a vote of no confidence in Parliament due to what they term as ODM’s dwindling numerical strength. However, legal experts say it would not be easy for the MPs as they are still in Parliament under ODM ticket with Mr Odinga as party leader. The National Accord signed by President Kibaki and Mr Odinga says the PM should be a leader of the majority party in Parliament. Former Kabete MP Paul Muite, a lawyer, says ODM MPs opposed to Mr Odinga should either use party machinery to remove him as ODM leader or resign and seek fresh mandate from the electorate. “Only the party’s national governing bodies can stop Mr Odinga being head of the party. The MPs should thus meet as a party and remove him,” Mr Muite said.Last Friday, the Rift Valley MPs allied to Mr Ruto, who were joined by a number from PNU and ODM-Kenya, said Mr Odinga lacked the numbers and thus, did not qualify to be the Prime Minister. They were speaking at Kaptumo grounds in Agriculture minister Sally Kosgei’s Aldai constituency before she jumped ship from Mr Odinga’s camp to Mr Ruto’s in ODM. Emgwen MP Elijah Langat said the government should be led by one person to avoid the wrangles that have been witnessed in the recent past. “We are facing all the problems because of the two centres of power that the country has. For any country to be governed well, there should be one centre of power,” said Mr Langat. Medical assistant minister Kazungu Kambi said the marriage between President Kibaki and Mr Odinga would officially end on March 4 when PNU is expected to hold National Delegates Conference in Nairobi where it would be resolved that it walks out of the coalition. “I want to believe that is the day when we shall officially end our relationship with the ODM wing of coalition,” said Mr Kambi. - Daily Nation.

Kenyan gospel singers living in Nottingham UK, Ms Rachel Njeri has produced a new album entitled "Gugakihana atia kuu iguru". During her last visit to Kenya recently, she managed to do a remix to her old album "Nyita na guoko" in a CD Audio and she is now working on the DVD. To get a copy contact her on rachel728@hotmail.co.uk or 07985662539. - - CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO

The Japan Sumo Association (JSA) has cancelled next month's grand tournament over allegations of match fixing. It is the first such cancellation since 1946 - when Tokyo's main stadium was being renovated. Police are investigating allegations of match fixing in which 13 senior wrestlers have been implicated. It follows another scandal over illegal gambling last year which saw live television coverage of the sport dropped by national broadcaster NHK. Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan has called the match-fixing scandal a betrayal of the people. Sumo has its origins in religious rites and wrestlers are expected to observe a strict code of behaviour. In the latest allegations the JSA chairman said last week that text messages found on mobile phones suggested that 13 senior wrestlers had been implicated. One reportedly went into detail of how he would attack and the other would fall, in exchange for hundreds of thousands of yen (100,000 yen equals $1,227 or £757). The messages came to light after police confiscated phones last year during an investigation into illegal gambling on baseball games by wrestlers using gangster middlemen.

"Success is not measured by what you accomplish but by the opposition you have encountered, and the courage with which you have maintained the struggle against overwhelming odds”

(Reuters) - About 1,500 far-right protesters marched through the centre of Luton Saturday to rally against "militant Islam," requiring a heavy police presence to avert clashes with 1,000 anti-fascist demonstrators. A sixth of Luton's population is Muslim, and past marches by the English Defence League have led to conflict with their opponents. The city centre turned into a virtual ghost town before the rally, with shops boarded up and pubs closed. But police and community activists averted large-scale violence, making only eight arrests on a mix of assault, drugs and weapons charges. There were no serious injuries. Tensions ran high as EDL leader Stephen Lennon -- who frequently adopts the name of infamous football hooligan Tommy Robinson -- told marchers to reject the influence of Islam in British public life. "Every single one of you are on the forefront of the fight against militant Islam," he said, as supporters chanted the EDL's name and other nationalistic songs based on those more usually associated with English football games. The EDL says it is not a racist organisation, and welcomed a speech by Prime Minister David Cameron earlier Saturday, where he told international leaders that his country had been too tolerant of British Islamists who rejected Western norms. Groups representing some British Muslims criticised Cameron for making the speech on the same day as the EDL march, and for implying that unwillingness to accept freedom of speech and equal rights was widespread among Muslims. "British Muslims abhor terrorism and extremism and we have worked hard to eradicate this evil from our country, but to suggest that we do not sign up to the values of tolerance, respect and freedom is deeply offensive and incorrect," said Mohammed Shafiq, chief executive of the Ramadhan Foundation. The Unite Against Fascism group protesting against the EDL in Luton said they did not believe the EDL's claims that it was only interested in combating Islamist extremism. "Hitler said he was a democrat before he burnt down the Reichstag. That is what fascists do -- they lie about what their nature is," said Elaine Heffernan, who attended the UAF rally. The EDL was formed after a group of radical Muslims shouted slogans at British soldiers, calling for them to "burn in Hell," during a homecoming parade in Luton in 2009. Luton Muslims have been implicated in a number of terrorism investigations and Taymour Abdulwahab, who carried out a suicide attack in Stockholm in December, had studied at the city's university. However, the town's Muslim leaders have regularly denounced militancy and say a few extremists are not a reflection of the rest of the community.

The Coral Triangle - stretching from the Solomon Islands to the waters around Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines - is the global centre of marine biodiversity, according to the environmental group WWF. But times are changing for the nomadic people who live there and harvest the sea. Photojournalist James Morgan is working with WWF, and spent eight months getting to know the Bajau Laut community - who for centuries have lived at sea, but are now being encouraged to settle on land and join the monetary economy. Hear from him - and see how the Bajau are having to adapt. - VIDEO

At least 13 people, including two children, have been killed in clashes between soldiers in the volatile south Sudan town of Malakal, doctors say. Battles broke out on Thursday between rival northern troops, some of whom want to stay in the south. Malakal has previously seen north-south clashes. The fighting comes as Southern Sudan is waiting for confirmation of the result of its independence referendum. Provisional results say 99% of voters opted to secede from the north. The vast majority of casualties seen in the hospital are civilians, caught in the battle which officials say has included heavy weapons such as mortars. But more are feared dead in the areas of heaviest fighting, which doctors have not yet been able to access. The fighting began when southerners who joined the northern army did not want to move, Upper Nile state spokesman Bartholomew Pakwan Abwol told the Reuters news agency. "They think they will have no rights in the north," he said. Another of the dead was a United Nations driver caught in crossfire, a UN spokesman said. The southern army, the SPLA, has not become involved in the fighting. It has previously clashed with northern militia in the town on the River Nile, leaving hundreds dead in 2006 and 2009. It is still seen as one of the potential flashpoints along the north-south border. Southern Sudan is set to become the world's newest nation on 9 July 2011. Its referendum was part of a deal to end decades of conflicts between north and south, driven by religious and ethnic divides.

David Cameron has declared that multiculturalism had failed in the UK as he called for a "muscular liberalism" that challenges Islamist extremism more forcefully. In a major speech on tackling the threat of terrorism, the Prime Minister warned that the "hands-off tolerance" of unacceptable practices by non-white communities had only served to encourage extremism. His intervention angered some Muslim groups and comes as the far-right English Defence League is holding a major demonstration in Luton. Speaking to a security conference in the German city of Munich, Mr Cameron said that the threat of terrorism must be confronted not only though intelligence and surveillance, but by taking on the ideology of Islamist extremism at home. "Frankly, we need a lot less of the passive tolerance of recent years and much more active, muscular liberalism," the Prime Minister said. While a "passively tolerant" society allowed its citizens to do what they like, so long as they do not break the law, a genuinely liberal country "believes in certain values and actively promotes them," Mr Cameron said. "Freedom of speech. Freedom of worship. Democracy. The rule of law. Equal rights, regardless of race, sex or sexuality. It says to its citizens: This is what defines us as a society. To belong here is to believe these things. "Each of us in our own countries must be unambiguous and hard-nosed about this defence of our liberty." Jack Straw, a former Labour home secretary, said: "Mr Cameron's suggestion that the previous Government had gone in for 'casual tolerance' of extremism is simply absurd - and sits oddly for a man who used to criticise us for being too tough in respect of our counter-terrorist measures, not too soft. "Nor is it remotely true that the previous government in any way encouraged or acquiesced in the 'separation' of which he speaks. The overwhelming majority of British citizens of the Muslim faith want the same for their families as everyone else, and subscribe to the same values, including an abhorrence of terrorism."

For this major series to accompany BBC One's 'Human Planet', Andy Kershaw and Lucy Duran go in search of music from some of the world's remotest locations... This week, Lucy presents a profile of the Mbendjele people of northern Congo, a pygmy hunter-gatherer group whose music echoes the sound of the forest that feeds them. - CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO MUSIC

Former freedom fighter Wambui Otieno Mbugua and her husband Peter Mbugua during their wedding at the St Andrew’s Church on February 4, 2011

At about 10am, on Friday, a well-dressed young man stepped onto the aisle at St Andrew’s Church in Nairobi, his face beaming with pride. By his side, in a wheelchair, was his equally happy wife. This was no ordinary wedding. It was of two lovers, a husband of 36 and his bride of 75, who have defied the norm and tradition and become a symbol of the proverbial power of love. Mr Peter Mbugua was in a striped black suit, light orange shirt and matching tie while his bride was in a cream suit, wide hat with a flower motif and a large black ribbon. When they first had their civil wedding ceremony at the Registrar of Marriages at Sheria House in July 2003, Mrs Wambui Otieno Mbugua, a former freedom fighter and Mr Peter Mbugua, a former stone mason, became instant media sensations. That was eight years ago. Friday’s ceremony was to solemnise in church the vows taken in 2003. It had been planned earlier, but Mrs Mbugua’s illness had often stood in the way, the Rev Geoffrey Gathairu told friends and family at the church. She has been in and out of hospital and now uses a wheelchair. The Rev Gathairu said when Wambui was in hospital last year, she had asked for a minister from St Andrew’s to visit her and celebrate Holy Communion.

But the priest said she would need to have her marriage blessed in church first and take faith renewal refresher courses. She took the courses in November and December last year, and the couple underwent marriage counselling where the Rev Gathairu said “Wambui was candid although Mbugua was sometimes shy”. “Love comes from God, and he is the only one who can explain it. Love is the source of the ability to give yourselves away in love,” he said. Outside the church, Wambui told journalists she had asked the choir to sing the hymn “When the storms of life are raging” because it had kept her going throughout her life. “When I was in detention, where we were beaten up a lot and over the six months I used to go to the mortuary to check on my late husband, S.M. Otieno, that song gave me hope,” she said. She fought and lost a six-month court battle for the right to bury Mr Otieno. “I love Mbugua because he has taken care of me for the last 10 years, even in my condition,” she added. All Mbugua said was: “I am happy. I am very happy.” At the reception in the church hall, the couple cut a three-tier cake. – Daily Nation.

The UK Border Agency is warning people to be cautious if they are offered the opportunity to make 'easy money' by transferring money into and out of their bank account. Many migrant students and workers are being targeted as 'money mules' to break the law by laundering stolen money. A criminal will pretend to offer them a genuine opportunity which involves receiving money into their bank account, and then transferring it to another account while keeping part of it as commission. But the money being transferred is stolen, and the transfer of it between accounts (known as 'money laundering') is illegal. People recruited by criminals to help transfer stolen money are known as 'money mules' or 'money transfer agents'. If you become involved in this activity, you can be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison. You can identify a money mule fraud and take steps to protect yourself by following this simple advice:

The series looking at man's survival in extreme environments looks at life in the rainforest, which requires great skill, ingenuity and sheer bravery. - CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE VIDEOS

A lot of people are just so excited about the construction of the Thika Road and how cool it will be going to Nairobi with a maximum of 25 minutes but none of them has sat down and analyzed the negative impacts it will cause to the people living in Thika and Along The highway. Just think for a minute,you will realize that after the road is finished life will not be the same anymore.The highway being the most modern road in Kenya will mean that Thika will no longer be just another upcountry town in central province,it will be like the next hub center from Nairobi,all Nairobians will migrate here,they will buy houses.On the other hand Landlords will increase the rent by huge percentages.The value of land along Kasarani, Githurai, Ruiru and Juja areas is appreciating fast due to the ongoing expansion of Thika Road into a modern motorway.Since the accessibilty to Nairobi will be easier transport cost will probably hike for those who will be unlucky to own their personal vehicles e.t.c. Am not trying to say that we should not have the highway constructed,am only trying to caution the residents of Thika who are just there unprepared and thinking that they will wake up to the same new dawn come 2012 when the constructions are finished.

Leaked documents suggest the Driving Standards Agency is looking at plans to close down test centres and use private firms as "delegated examiners". The new plans could see examiners based at supermarkets and community centres. The Public and Commercial Services union says it has seen leaked documents showing that the DSA is exploring several options to lower its costs.

The plans follow moves by the Government to study ways of providing driving tests more efficiently at a lower cost and whether they could be undertaken by other organisations inside or outside of the public sector, said the PCS. General secretary Mark Serwotka said: "These new documents shed more light on the plans being hatched behind closed doors by senior managers and ministers. "Worryingly, it is the latest evidence of the creeping privatisation of the agency's work, which puts ideology before road safety.".

More british women see rise in breast cancer-a woman being scanned for cancer test

Cancer Research UK says 47,700 women were diagnosed in 2008 - up from 42,400 in 1999. That's pushed the lifetime risk of developing the disease up from one in nine women to one in eight. The charity blames the rise on lifestyle factors, including increasing rates of obesity and alcohol consumption. Women are also having children later in life, which adds to the risk. Director of health information at Cancer Research UK Sara Hiom said small changes in everyday habits can reduce a woman's risk. She said: "Cutting back on alcohol helps. Taking more exercise and eating a diet high in fibre but low in saturated fat can help maintain a healthy weight. "Women should also discuss hormone replacement therapy with their doctor as long-term use can raise breast cancer risk." Despite the rise in cases, more women now survive breast cancer. More than three-quarters survive for at least 10 years. Pamela Goldberg of the charity Breast Cancer Campaign said improving survival rates are due to better diagnosis and treatment. "It's crucial that women are breast aware throughout their lives and those aged 50 and over attend their routine NHS screening appointments, as early diagnosis will increase the chances of long-term survival," she said. VIDEO

Egypt's embattled president has said he would like to step down now following major protests against him - but he fears there would be chaos if he did so.

Hosni Mubarak, who remains inside his heavily guarded presidential palace in the capital Cairo, claimed he was "fed up" and he wanted "to go" after 62 years in public service. However, he feared the consequences if he was to quit immediately, saying the banned Islamist Muslim Brotherhood would take power. Mr Mubarak also told America's ABC News he was troubled by the deadly violence between pro and anti-government demonstrators which has erupted during the protests. And he insisted that his government was not responsible for it. There have been suggestions that some people were paid by the government to attack anti-regime protesters with stones and rocks in Cairo's Tahrir Square. But the 82-year-old leader blamed the opposition Muslim Brotherhood for the fighting. He added: "I don't care what people say about me. Right now I care about my country." He described President Barack Obama as a very good man, but wavered when asked if he felt that the US had betrayed him, ABC said.

Mr Mubarak said he told Mr Obama: "You don't understand the Egyptian culture and what would happen if I step down now," according to ABC. Police arrested seven youth leaders of the protests in Tahrir Square shortly after they visited leading dissident Mohamed ElBaradei, their families have said. Meanwhile, Egypt's vice-president has said he is trying to introduce government reforms but the clashes between pro and anti-President Mubarak demonstrators need to stop. Omar Suleiman said the violence had led to about one million tourists leaving the country in the past nine days and this had cost Egypt at least $1bn in lost revenue.

He said he has been discussing reforms with opposition groups but only has around 200 days to make "so many changes" before presidential elections, which could happen as early as August. Read more.....

Meanwhile,the United States is discussing with Egyptian officials a plan for President Hosni Mubarak to quit immediately and turn power over to a transitional government headed by Vice President Omar Suleiman, The New York Times reported on Thursday. Read more...

Central Bank of Kenya has issued guidelines allowing larger transfers for the mobile money industry as it emerged that operators transacted an unprecedented Sh76 billion last December. The draft guidelines for mobile and other electronic money issuance and transfer services are meant to protect consumers and provide minimum standards of operations in the e-money sector. The rules propose that retail transfers be capped at Sh100,000, giving room for all providers to review their limits upwards once the draft becomes law. Industry players are slated to review the draft before they are considered for gazettement. Currently, the highest amount being transferred in a single transaction is Sh70,000 by Safaricom, which reviewed the limits recently. Other mobile money transfer agents have capped single cash transactions at Sh35,000. Issuers of e-money, which include money transfers and plastic cards as well as online payments, are now supposed to disclose certain information in writing to new e-money account holders including: The fact that their cash can be redeemed, fees applicable, that funds put in cannot earn interest and that it is not a savings account or other investment instrument. The amount put in the e-money transfer account is not protected under the Deposit Protection Fund, the way bank accounts are. That effectively means that if an e-money issuing firm collapses with a customer’s deposits there is no recourse. In turn, this is likely to keep the amount of deposits with money transfer providers low. The rules provide for appointment of agents by e-money issuers and registration of such agents. They also provide the rules of engagement.

Said Central Bank of Kenya governor Njuguna Ndung’u: “The mobile money transfers has in the last few years demonstrated how financial services can be provided to a large number with least cost using appropriate technological platforms”. Speaking at the Kenya School of Monetary Studies in Nairobi, Prof Ndung’u noted that in only four years of existence of mobile phone money transfer services, four mobile phone operators have launched the services and have enrolled over 15.4 million customers and recruited over 39,000 agents. Total transactions have now reached Sh2.45 billion a day and Sh76 billion a month as at December 2010. “This has created many opportunities for Kenyans and including employment, access to financial services and an effective tool for channelling currency to the banking systems,” said Prof Ndung’u. The draft rules say that a payment service provider, who is not a licensed bank or an authorised e-money issuer, must have a minimum of Sh10 million in core capital. However, it must also maintain an amount equal to one per cent of one-twelfth of the previous year’s total transaction value. For all the providers, the total core capital on the basis of annualised transactions for December 2010 would means that Sh7.56 billion would be maintained as core capital. The core capital has been defined clearly to avoid a situation where a provider arbitrarily uses such manoeuvres as goodwill to ensure meeting requirements without having tangible capital. Core capital is defined as the shareholder’s funds in the form of fully-paid shares and disclosed reserves less goodwill or any other intangible assets. – Daily Nation.

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The series looking at man's survival in extreme environments looks at life in the rainforest, which requires great skill, ingenuity and sheer bravery.The rainforest is home to more species of plants and animals than any other habitat on the planet. But for humans, life there is not as easy as it looks. Life in the trees requires great skill, ingenuity and sheer bravery. The Matis of Brazil carve 4-metre-long blow-pipes to hunt monkeys - in near total silence. Deep in the Congo forests, Tete defies death by scaling a giant tree using nothing more than a liana vine, and he must then negotiate an angry swarm of bees - all to collect honey for his family. Three children from Venezuela's Piaroa tribe venture deep into the jungle to hunt tarantulas - to toast for lunch! In West Papua the Korowai tribe show-off their engineering skills by building a high-rise home 35 metres up in the tree tops. Most memorable of all, in Brazil we join a unique monitoring flight in search an un-contacted tribe...- CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO

Are you a family with children in UK and/or the children or one family member has leave to remain in the UK and you have submitted an application to the Home Office in line with your family which has subsequently been refused.

If this applies to you, seek legal advice so that you can ask the Home Office to review your case in line with the recent Supreme Court Ruling.

An isolated tribe living in the Amazon rainforest on the Brazil-Peru border has been filmed for the first time. Jose Carlos Meirelles, of Funai, said his government agency needs proof of the existence of "uncontacted" Indian communities in Brazil due to the threat posed by illegal logging and mining. They are known as "uncontacted" because they have only limited dealings with the outside world. The BBC was allowed to film from 1km away using a stabilised zoom lens. New photos obtained by Survival International show uncontacted Indians in never-seen-before detail. The Indians are living in Brazil, near the Peruvian border, and are featured in the ‘Jungles’ episode of BBC1’s ‘Human Planet’ (Thurs 3 Feb, 8pm, UK only). The pictures were taken by Brazil’s Indian Affairs Department, which has authorized Survival to use them as part of its campaign to protect their territory. They reveal a thriving, healthy community with baskets full of manioc and papaya fresh from their gardens. The tribe’s survival is in serious jeopardy as an influx of illegal loggers invades the Peru side of the border. Brazilian authorities believe the influx of loggers is pushing isolated Indians from Peru into Brazil, and the two groups are likely to come into conflict. - VIDEO

Kenya’s former anti-corruption czar John Githongo is set to join a high-level commission in Britain set up to reassure taxpayers that aid is being well spent, British newspaper, The Guardian has reported. The newspaper reported on its website that Britain’s international development secretary Andrew Mitchell will announce on Thursday that Mr Githongo is to be part of a four-strong independent team appointed to scrutinise whether the European nation is getting full value for money from its rapidly increasing aid spending. Mr Mitchell said that Mr Githongo’s record on fighting corruption in Kenya would be an added value to Britain’s Independent Commission for Aid. “It is crucial that we have credible, energetic, capable people, who can shine a light on the UK’s aid programmes, which is why I am delighted at the appointment of this board,” Mr Mitchell told The Guardian. The former Kenyan anti-corruption boss joins the Global Markets and Management Consulting CEO, Mr Mark Foster and Ms Diana Good, a part-time judge and a founder trustee of the Access to Justice Foundation, as the three new commissioners to the ICA. They join Graham Ward, an accountant, who was appointed chief commissioner last year. Mr Githongo has spearheaded numerous anti-corruption measures in Kenya. After Narc party took over government in 2002, Mr Githongo was appointed permanent secretary for ethics and governance in the Office of the President. In 2005, he left that position and ran away from the country, later accusing top ministers of large-scale fraud.

According to Dubai Naturalization and Residency Department, 54,684 residency visas were cancelled in January 2011, compared to 29,418 in January 2008. This translates to about 1,764 a day. But 1,088 visas were issued daily in January, 1,000 fewer than in the same period of 2008.

After 12 years, Kenyan Steve Onyango has been told he’s no longer welcome in Canada, after his wife, and sponsor, died three years ago. Onyango owns a home in Windsor and works as a parking enforcement officer, yet he may have to leave the life he’s built if government officials get their way. When his wife Michelle passed away in 2008, his immigration claim died too. This month, the government sent him a letter informing him that his application for permanent residence had been denied because his sponsor was no longer living. “Losing my wife was quite a loss to me,” said Onyango. “I didn’t realize that immigration would actually take that — me losing my wife — an an excuse to refuse or to deny my application for permanent residency. I was thinking that they would be more compassionate than that.” Onyango volunteers his time with Habitat for Humanity, the Special Olympics, and as headmaster at the Masonic Lodge. When his Canadian friends learned about his situation, they were shocked and decided to do something to try to help. “I almost fell over,” said Thomas Seal. “I don’t think it’s our government — I don’t think they understand how because of a technicality, that he could just be suddenly up for export.” Seal wrote a letter on his friend’s behalf to Member of Parliament Jeff Watson, but was told the deportation stands. He has started a petition in hopes the government would reconsider the case on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. Onyango is now left waiting for the day he hopes never comes. “They say I’m subject to removal,” he said. “So to my understanding, that means at any time the border services will get in touch and ask me to leave the country, which is quite scary.” Onyango said he’s thankful for every day he has in the community he calls home. “I do love to give back to the community,” he said. “And I’m not a freeloader, so I believe I’m an asset to the Canadian community.” - CBC, Canada.

Australian tourists arrive with the first Australian special charter flight from Cairo at the Frankfurt airport

Kenya Shillings depreciates highly as the exchange rate against the pound goes up to Kshs. 128 in London

Millions of Americans have been digging themselves out after snow covered more than a third of the country. The storm, one of the largest to hit the US since the 1950s, spread more than 2,000 miles - reaching from Texas to Maine in the North East. Chicago was covered by 20 inches of snow, forcing firefighters to use snowmobiles to get around the city. In North Dakota, temperatures of -27C were recorded. Officials in Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and Oklahoma declared a state of emergency and motorists were warned to stay off the roads. The National Guard was deployed to help rescue stranded drivers, but the National Weather Service warned the extreme conditions may prevent any further rescues. Train services between New York and Philadelphia were cancelled with more than 6,300 scheduled flights grounded in the affected area. In Texas, the weather forced rolling blackouts, leaving three million people without electricity. Authorities have brought in extra power from Mexico in order to meet demand. - VIDEO

The United States is opposed to a deferral of cases against six suspected masterminds of Kenya’s post-election violence. Kenya got the support of the African Union to defer the cases at the continental group’s summit that ended in Addis Ababa on Monday. US Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg, who is visiting Kenya, said on Thursday that his government would not support the deferrals, especially if they were meant to protect the suspects. “What is critical is to make sure accountability is achieved and impunity is avoided,” he said. Mr Steinberg said the UN Security Council had not communicated with the US as one of its permanent members on the AU’s deferrals request. “The US feels strongly that accountability is a critical element of making sure Kenya can move forward and deal with the past as well as build a strong future,” Mr Steinberg said in Nairobi after he called on Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission director Patrick Lumumba. He reiterated the same at a meeting with journalists at the US embassy in Nairobi. “Because the ICC is the mechanism available and which Kenya submitted to, that is what we support,” he said. China, also a permanent member of the Security Council, favours Kenya’s request. President Kibaki has said he supports a local mechanism to try the suspects, but Mr Steinberg said the US would not back this unless it meets the standards for trying international crimes. The US official also met President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga separately and delivered a similar message. Meanwhile, a group of organisations on Thursday held demonstrations in Nairobi to protest the decision by some MPs to pull out of the ICC. The civil society groups said the move by the MPs to vote to move out of the ICC process is an attack on Kenya’s sovereignty. “We very firmly state that we do not support the proposal to remove Kenya from the ICC” Ms Rosemary Tollo of Africa Centre for Open Governance said. – Daily Nation.

With an abundance of false advertising and old wives’ tales surrounding the healthy eating industry, it can be tough to know what’s really healthy and what just looks that way. Here are the truths behind some common food misconceptions.

1) Cereal is the healthiest way to start the day
With many breakfast cereals packaged as health foods - perfect for weight loss and growing kids alike - it is not surprising that many of us view them in this way. However, this image is surprisingly inaccurate, as sugar levels in packaged cereals are often extremely high, even in the most "healthy" sounding brands. A recent study by Which? found that only one of the 100 leading brands of cereals they tested had healthy levels of fat, sugar and salt, while 22 of the cereals aimed at children contained more sugar per serving than a jam doughnut. While it is true that many of these cereals are fortified with vitamins and minerals, these nutrients are better taken in their natural form if possible, so stocking up on foods naturally abundant in vitamins and minerals and low in sugar - such as oats, sugar free muesli, wholegrain bread or eggs -would be a healthier, more nutritious breakfast choice.

2) Healthy equals low fat
Many people think that healthy food is low-fat food - and vice versa - but this is actually not a valid equation. Firstly, many low fat foods are not actually all that healthy. Many ready-meals, yoghurts and snacks for example, are advertised as low-fat, but that by no means makes them healthy if they are instead full of salt, additives and sugar. The second thing to consider is that all fats are not the same, and some are actually very healthy. Monounsaturated fats, found in avocados, olive oil and nuts, can actually help weight loss, as well as keeping your heart healthy and lowering cholesterol. When comparing foods, it is important therefore to consider the type of fat in your foods - and also the food's nutritional value - as well as quantities of fat.

3) Potatoes count as one of your recommended fruit and veg
With the government advising we increase our daily portions of fruit and veg, many of us are confused about what exactly counts towards this. Many joke about the nutritional value of chips and crisps as they come from potatoes, but the actual fact is that potatoes - in any form - are not the best choice of vegetable; in fact they do not even count in the UK as one of the recommended five a day. While potatoes are still a good source of fibre, B vitamins and potassium, in terms of the UK's five-a-day scheme, they are classified as a starchy food - or carbohydrate - rather than a vegetable. To increase your portions of veg, try replacing your baked potato with a sweet potato now and then, or mash a parsnip, sweet potato or swede in to your mash.

4) Only fresh fruit counts
Fortunately, it is not all bad on the fruit and veg score, as getting in your recommended portions of fruit is actually a lot easier than many people think. While eating whole fresh fruit is a great way to fill up and get healthy, fruit juice, dried fruit, frozen fruit and tinned fruit also count towards your recommended portions. Not only that but many fruit-based desserts - such as apple pie, fruit crumble and fruitcake - count too. Although they may not be as great for your waistline or general health, provided they contain a relevant amount of fruit they will still count toward your recommended daily intake.

5) Natural means healthy
Just as a low-fat label does not automatically signal a healthy snack, neither does an "organic" or "natural" one. Although organic foods may be healthier than non-organic versions of the same snack, being organic or natural does not exclude foods from being loaded with salt, sugar or saturated fats. Also, be wary of labels that state foods "contain" organic or natural ingredients, as very often this does not mean much at all. A fruit-flavoured product, for example, may claim it contains real fruit, but this doesn't mean there is any substantial amount in the product - or indicate what the rest of the ingredients are. Although it is good to eat naturally and organically where possible, it is also important to check labels to make sure "natural" products are really as healthy as they seem.

6) Vegetarian diets are protein deficient
A common myth about the vegetarian diet is that it does not contain sufficient protein. One idea that contributes to this perception is that the body needs high levels of protein for health. However, studies have suggested that eating protein at very high levels could actually be bad for us, while Dr Matthew Piper, from the Institute of Healthy Ageing at University College London, has suggested that the vegetarian diet may actually help us live longer for this very reason. The second misconception here is that meat is the best source of protein. In fact, most foods (including vegetables and grains) contain some level of protein, and there are many great sources of vegetarian protein around, which also have the added benefit of being free of the saturated fats found in most meat.

7) Food intolerances are the same as allergies
Many people use the phrases 'food allergy' and 'food intolerance' as though they were interchangeable, however this is not the case. Although many people believe they have food allergies, it is more likely they are suffering from food intolerance. While up to 45% of the UK population suffer from food intolerance according to Allergy UK, allergies are a lot rarer, affecting only 1-2% of people. Also, while they are less common, the effects of food allergies are also a lot more severe since they involve the immune system, meaning that symptoms are often severe and can even be life-threatening. In contrast, food intolerances mainly involve the digestive system - with sufferers having trouble digesting food - and symptoms, although uncomfortable and even painful, are never life-threatening.

8) Brown sugar is healthier than white sugar
With many people longing for a way to indulge their sweet tooth and stay healthy at the same time, sugar is a common cause of misconceptions. One theory that many buy into is the idea that brown sugar (in the way of brown bread and rice) is healthier than the white variety, however this is not true. Although brown sugar contains small traces of minerals (due to the presence of molasses), in reality they are such small traces that they are no real benefit to our health. Also, at the end of the day brown sugar is still sugar, and it brings with it all the same calories and health risks of white sugar, including increased risk of heart disease, tooth decay and obesity.

9) Bottled water is better than tap
We are constantly encouraged to drink more water for our health, and a common misconception is that drinking it by the bottle is a much healthier way of doing this. While there has been no scientific evidence that bottled water is better for us, some studies have actually suggested it is worse. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) did a four-year review of the bottled water industry and found the water to be no safer or healthier, findings that were also confirmed in a separate study by the University of Geneva. The NRDC further concluded that 25% of the water they tested was in fact just tap water in a bottle. Studies have also suggested that bottled water may be worse for our health as chemicals (phthalates) from the bottles leach into the water over time, which may lead to hormone imbalance when consumed in high levels.

10) Craving is your body's way of saying it needs something
A big misconception about food cravings is that they are our body's way of telling us we are lacking a certain nutrient and need to remedy this immediately via a huge slab of chocolate cake (or your particular food of choice). However, while this theory may help ease our guilt over giving in to cravings, it has yet to be proven true, and more recent research has suggested that food cravings are in fact all in the mind. A study published in the journal Appetite has suggested that many people crave the foods that they most attempt to resist, such as junk food. Research has also suggested that people simply crave the foods that they are most exposed to and familiar with, which is demonstrated by the fact that most people crave sugary, salty and fatty foods. Your body and mind will only crave the foods they remember, meaning that eating a healthy, balanced diet - with a little of what you fancy - should help to reduce those junk food cravings.

Tension is high at Likia Trading Centre in Njoro District a day after a 70 year old man was hacked to death at Witemere farm by herders. Two other people were critically injured and are fighting for their lives at the Rift Valley Provincial General hospital. The violence has been triggered by a dispute over pasture. Mr Wakaba was killed in the controversial Witemere area in Likia forest. The forest has been at the centre of a bitter dispute between the communities, with the herders claiming it as their grazing field while the farmers have continued to till it even after the government declared it a water catchment area. The two men were attacked and shot with arrows by the raiders said to be numbering about eight. A third victim is nursing serious burns in the same Hospital after he was allegedly set on fire by another group of youths said be in solidarity with the raiders at Mau-Narok area. At the same time, a pick-up belonging to a businessman at Likia Trading Center was reduced to a shell in a move aimed at revenging the attacks of the four men believed to be from one of the two warring communities in the area. Njoro DC Jimmy Njoka speaking over the phone confirmed the incidences and said that security has been beefed up in the area to contain the situation and peace meeting will be held amongst members of the two warring communities to ensure a peaceful coexistence. Njoka added that the conflict was brought about by scramble for limited resources including water and pastures which made one community to graze their animals at the other community's farms. He asked Kenya Forest services Unit to take over the Witemere farms where conflict a rose despite of being part of Mau forest which should not be occupied by private owner. However the meeting organized at Likia by Mauche and Mau-Narok Dos failed to take off after the tension in the area heightened. Most of the residents opted to guard their homes for fear of arson attacks as witnessed during the post election violence.

One of the biggest cyclones ever to hit Australia has carved a trail of destruction across the north-eastern state of Queensland and on right Torrential rains and winds of up to 290km/h (181mph) hit the coast south of the city of Cairns in Queensland, Australia. This banana crop in Innisfail was devastated.

Nairobi, Kenya, Thursday 3rd February, 2011 - The High Court has declared the recent judicial appointments announced by President Mwai Kibaki last Friday unconstitutional. Justice Daniel Musinga ruled that President Kibaki breached the constitution in nominating individuals to the Offices of the Chief Justice, the Attorney General, Director of Public Prosecutions and Controller of Budget. A group of Non-Government Organisations that mainly advance the rights of women had moved to court claiming that the nominations of Justice Alnashir Visram as Chief Justice, Prof Githu Muigai for AG, Kioko Kilukumi DPP and William Kirwa as Controller of Budget were unconstitutional as they ignored gender equality. "The said nominations are prima facie unconstitutional for being insensitive to gender equality and equal opportunity provisions as well as provisions on consultations and public participation as guaranteed by the Constitution," their lawyer Elisha Ongoya told the High Court. He told the court to put halt the President's move as it negated the spirit and letter of the Constitution. "The nominations set a dangerous precedent and stand out as dangerous rodents eating at the very roots of constitutionalism and the rule of law that ought to be safeguarded by the Constitution of Kenya," Mr Ongoya told High Court judge Daniel Musinga. The eight applicants include the Centre for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW), Caucus for Women's Leadership (CAUCUS), Tomorrow Child Initiative (TCI) and Women in Law and Development (K). Others are Development Through Media (DTM), Coalition on Violence Against Women (COVAW), Young Women Leadership Institute (YWLI) and the League of Kenya Women Voters. In their petition, the applicants claim that the nominations were done without advertisement and members of the public who ought to have participated were kept in the dark. They claim that under Article 10(2) (a) that guarantees the Rule of Law as one of the National Values and Principles that bind all state officers, public officers and all persons whenever they apply or interpret the Constitution and in line with these provisions, they have the right to challenge the said nominations. "There is real and present danger that unless halted, other organs of state like the National Assembly may be buoyed by the President's unconstitutional acts and approve the same hence set in motion foundations of blatant disregard for the Constitution," the lawyer said. But Senior State Counsel Anthony Ombwayo and Wanjiku Mbiyu sought for adjournment of the hearing of the matter saying they needed to get instructions from the Office of the President. - CapitalFM

UFO has been spotted hovering over one of the holiest sites in Islam, the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. It is the place where the prophet Muhammad is said to have ascended to heaven, built on top of a site sacred to Judaism. The event was captured on camera by an American tourist and posted on YouTube. It could easily be dismissed as a hoax, but someone else filmed what appears to be same event from a different angle. The glowing ball of light dropping until it hangs just over the Dome of the Rock, before suddenly shooting off as if disturbed. - VIDEO

The July 7 gang were guided in a series of phone calls from Pakistan as they built their bombs, the inquest into the atrocity heard today. The British-born extremists received bomb-making instructions from an unidentified man ringing from a phone box in Rawalpindi. The mystery figure made his final call five days before the bombs went off, claiming 52 innocent lives. Previous intelligence reports have suggested that the bombers were inspired by al Qaeda but worked alone and were not controlled by a mastermind. But today Detective Sergeant Mark Stuart told the inquest at London's Royal Courts of Justice that mobile phone records revealed a series of calls made from phone boxes in Pakistan to ringleader Mohammad Sidique Khan. Khan and his accomplices constructed their home-made devices using a cocktail of concentrated hydrogen peroxide and pepper at their homes in Leeds.

But lacking the expertise themselves, they are believed to have been guided from Pakistan. Hugo Keith, QC, counsel to the inquests, asked the officer: "Did you assess that those calls therefore were probably connected to some guidance or some means of communicating information concerned with the manufacture of the bombs and then ultimately their detonation?" He replied: "Yes, I think they had to be." Many of the calls, though made from different phone boxes, were made within minutes of each other, suggesting whoever phoned Khan was intent on concealing their identity, the inquest was told. Sergeant Stuart told the court a flurry of calls was made between the four minutes before the bombs went off. Khan, 30, who carried out the Edgware Road bomb that killed seven people, had travelled to the Pakistani city of Karachi in 2004 with Aldgate bomber Shehzad Tanweer. Both had become known to the security services. Jermaine Lindsay, 19, the Russell Square bomber, spent his childhood in Huddersfield. The youngest bomber, Hasib Hussain, 18, was a second generation British citizen whose parents were of Pakistani origin.

The fate of the three judicial officers proposed by President Kibaki is now in the hands of House Speaker Kenneth Marende.

Mr Marende declared that he will on Thursday rule on the legality of the nominations at the conclusion of heated arguments between MPs supporting the President and those backing Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s protest that he was not consulted. “This is a matter of great national importance. I have the jurisdiction and locus standi to intervene in this matter,” Mr Marende said. It will be the latest in a series of disputes between President Kibaki’s PNU and Prime Minister Odinga’s ODM where Mr Marende has been called upon to arbitrate. This time, even Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Mutula Kilonzo said gender balance had not been observed. The highlight of the debate in Parliament yesterday afternoon was the rare airing of what went on behind closed doors between President Kibaki and Prime Minister at a series of meetings going back to early December. Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka kicked off the issue when he provided a lengthy account of the deliberations in an effort to prove that Mr Odinga was fully consulted before President Kibaki last Friday released the list of nominees for Chief Justice, Attorney-General, Director of Public Prosecutions and Controller of Budget. The VP told an attentive House that Mr Odinga, who had left for Addis Ababa that day, ignored telephone calls from the President intended to conclude the matter.

Mr Odinga, while confirming that there had been some discussion between him and President Kibaki on the appointments, said no agreement had been reached. He said he had suggested that a judge from the Commonwealth be appointed given that all the Kenyan ones would have to undergo vetting. “The President said, and I’ll use his own words, ‘Yes. That’s a very good idea. However, we can look at those we have locally who have merit and we’ll be seen to have awarded merit’,” Mr Odinga said.

He disputed Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka’s assertion that he had suggested Justice Riaga Omolo for Chief Justice, saying the name came from a list provided of judges based on seniority. Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka had earlier given another version where he said the two first discussed the appointments on December 16 last year and later on January 6 and on January 27 this year. He said it was after waiting for three hours on the last day and after failing to contact the PM while he was in Addis Ababa, that the President made the appointments. Imenti Central MP Gitobu Imanyara initiated the debate when he asked Mr Marende to make a ruling on the matter suggesting the nominations were unconstitutional. On Friday, President Kibaki proposed Court of Appeal judge Alnashir Visram as Chief Justice in place of Mr Justice Evan Gicheru, who is required by law to vacate the office by February 27.

The President also nominated law professor Githu Muigai as Attorney General in place of Mr Amos Wako and Mr Kioko Kilukumi to the new powerful post of Director of Public Prosecutions. He also named the managing director of Agricultural Development Corporation, Mr William Kirwa, to the new post of Controller of Budget. His nominations were immediately opposed by ODM, which said no consultations with the PM had taken place. Outside Parliament on Tuesday, lawyers held a demonstration to oppose the nominations. The protest, organised by the Law Society of Kenya, Federation of Women Lawyers – Kenya (Fidak-K) and the International Commission of Jurists took place outside the Nairobi law courts. Read on....

Obama: Egypt Power Shift 'Must Begin Now'

President Obama (left) told the beleaguered Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak (centre) that an "orderly transition of power must begin now", and on the right, protesters are calling for Mr Mubarak to stand down immediately

President Obama has told the beleaguered Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak that an "orderly transition of power must begin now". Mr Obama said Egypt's president of 30 years recognised that the status quo was "not sustainable and change must take place". Mubarak said he would not contest September's election following several days of mass demostration against his rule. however, the protesters say they want the president to stand down immediately.Mr Obama spoke to Mr Mubarak for half an hour by telephone after America's long-term ally announced his plans to move aside later this year. "After his speech tonight, I spoke directly to President Mubarak," Mr Obama said in an address at the White House. "He recognises that the status quo is not sustainable and that a change must take place. "What is clear and what I indicated tonight to President Mubarak is my belief that an orderly transition must be meaningful, it must be peaceful and it must begin now." Egypt has been a key ally of the US in the Middle East and the go-to guy for America's peace drive between Israel and the Palestinians. However, Mr Obama sent an envoy to Egypt on Tuesday to urge the president to prepare for a transition of power.

Protesters say they will continue demonstrating this week unless the president quits now and will march on the palace on Friday.

When schoolgirls become pregnant, they become psychologically affected as other students start calling them mama. Often, they end up dropping out.

School heads have been directed to readmit girls who became pregnant once they deliver. The Ministry of Education has warned of stern disciplinary action against headteachers who defy the directive. Education assistant minister Ayiecho Olweny said hundreds of pregnant school girls in different parts of the country end up getting wasted after being denied admission. He said the ministry wanted all girls who dropped out over pregnancy allowed back without conditions to complete their education. Prof Olweny, however, asked the girls to maintain discipline. Addressing a funds drive in Nandi Central District, the assistant minister said the new Constitution allowed students to enjoy the right to education without discrimination. He added that post-election violence had negatively affected education in the country and almost crippled free primary education after the government had spent more than Sh59 billion on the programme. Prof Olweny told parents that the government would soon employ nursery school teachers and warned heads against forcing students to repeat classes due to poor performance. Energy assistant minister Magerer Langat asked the Kalenjin community to invest more in education and ensure schools were well managed. He called for an increase in bursary to finance education for needy students. Meanwhile, Nandi North Kenya National Union of Teachers secretary Josephat Serem said the new alcohol law would help schools contain drug abuse. “In the past illegal drugs and alcohol were sneaked into schools by crooked students, but the new alcohol law has made it difficult for such things,” Mr Serem said. The union leader welcomed the government’s assurance on employment of nursery school teachers, saying they played a key role in education at primary level.

Asda told to change adverts by ASA

Asda adverts promoting price competition against other supermarkets must be changed, the advertising watchdog has ruled. The adverts promised to refund customers the difference during their next shop if they found groceries cheaper at the other major stores.

But Morrisons and Tesco complained to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) that there were significant exclusions from theprice comparison. Asda argued the comparison was robust.

Tesco and Morrisons complained to the ASA that the adverts were misleading as they implied that the Asda was cheaper than the two supermarkets and Sainsbury's. Asda disagreed, arguing that the adverts made it clear that the offer only applied to comparable grocery products. The ASA upheld, or partly upheld, four of the nine complaints against Asda. The watchdog said that Asda did not make it clear enough that the price guarantee did not apply to non-grocery products, such as books and football-related items that appeared prominently in the adverts. It ruled that the adverts must not appear again in their current form.

The Co-operative Bank of Kenya has been named the Best Bank in Kenya in the just concluded The Banker Awards 2010 by the Financial Times of London. This is an annual international award, which recognises exceptional performance by financial institutions in each country, worldwide. The bank received the global award on the basis of its sound management policies, strong business performance and a demonstrated commitment to customer satisfaction in the face of increased competition in the industry. Speaking on the recognition, the bank’s managing director Gideon Muriuki said they will remain dedicated to their growth plans and focussed on enhancing their shareholder value. “It is this commitment to our objectives and calling that has seen our share appreciate by over 112 per cent since the beginning of the year 2010 positioning it among the best performing stock in the year,” said Mr Muriuki. In the award, the organisers cited, among others, Co-op Bank’s advancing a unique business model in Kenya through which the bank is able to reach out to more than 7 million members of the co-operative movement, many of whom would not be serviced by other banks. Locally, the bank also won one of the top two awards in the Best Quoted Company Category in the recently held Capital Markets Awards by Think Business.

A 55-year-old porn addict recently broke down and wept at a pub in Limuru town when he recounted to fellow drinkers how he had purchased a blue movie only to find his daughter in it. According to witnesses, Kiragu, a retired school headmaster, entered the bar at dusk in a foul mood and ordered for drinks. After going through six bottles, he hurled them to the floor and they shattered into pieces. When confronted by the angry pub owner, he broke into a prolonged sob before telling him and the stunned patrons how his only daughter had broken his heart by starring in a blue movie. According to him, a friend in Thika town had called him a few days earlier regarding a blue movie he had watched and loved. The friend told him the movie had been shot in Nairobi and the actors were local girls who spoke in vernacular. After being told where in Nairobi to purchase the movie, Kiragu hastily telephoned his wife, a secretary in Limuru, telling her that he had received a call from their daughter who was studying at a beauty college in Nairobi. She wanted him to take to her some text books and money. In Nairobi, Kiragu found the movie he wanted and went back home. That evening, he retired to bed early citing a headache. At midnight, however, he silently left bed and tiptoed to the sitting room where he turned on the TV and inserted the Kikuyu movie in silent mode so as not to wake his wife. The first few scenes that featured elderly women with young men did not excite though. But just then, he got to a scene where two youths, a male and a female, were huddled together in a small room. Apart from the scene being a bit blurred, the room in which the movie was shot was poorly lit and it was difficult to make out the faces of the actors. Kiragu fiddled with the TV to get a clear image. Just as he was about to give up and proceed to another scene, he heard the movie director asking someone in the background to adjust the lights in the room and focus on the actors. It is then that Kiragu saw his dear Carol. The shocked man let out a terrified shriek that woke up his wife. Thinking that they had been raided by robbers, she let out a cry for help while rushing to the sitting room. She found her dumbfounded husband staring blankly at the unfolding images on the TV. "Oh my God, Kiragu, how can you be watching these evil things? Wait a minute, isn’t that Carol our daughter?" she asked moving closer to the TV. What followed were Kiragu’s calls for neighbours to help take his wife, who had collapsed on the floor in a faint, to a nearby clinic. When Kiragu concluded his story to a silent bar, he staggered to the counter, paid his bill and then announced that he had ceased being a porn addict and was contemplating being born again and joining a local church. - The Standard.

This photo was taken in Limuru town by Baby Seed on his tour in that area on Tuesday last week

Mr Jack Waiyaki Chairman of Kenyan Community Bedford and Mr Robert Owino Chairman of Kenyan Community Bristol shake hands on the agreement flanked by officials from both organisations and on right serious Consultations around the table.

Kenyan Community Bedford and Kenyan Association in Bristol sign Memorandum of Understanding to work in partnership. The Kenyan Community Bedford officials and Kenyan Association in Bristol officials on Saturday 29th January signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work in partnership as the two organisations share very similar objectives in youth, sporting, educational, business and cultural activities. The two community organisations are very serious and committed to support their community’s general welfare and promote social cohesion. The partnership agreement will now see joint events including football and fun activities for both the youth and adults held in Bedford and Bristol.

The two organisations have further broadened horizons and work with partner organisations for the benefit of Kenya and UK to help maximise the benefits of the London 2012 Olympics and other activities. So far, more than 16 schools have been twinned between Kenya and UK facilitated by the two organisations and other partners. Kenyan Community Bedford has an official partnership working with Athletics Kenya whilst Kenyan Association in Bristol has strong links with the National Olympic of Kenya. The two organisations pledged to work together to facilitate the Team Kenya hospitality during London 2012 committing to provide a home from home experience. Kenyan Community Bedford and Kenyan Community Bristol are now urging Kenyans in UK and Europe to register for tickets now and purchase tickets for the London 2012 Olympics when they go on sale next month on March 15th. The two organisations hope to mobilise support en masse for the Kenyan Team.

Illegal immigrant mother can stay, rules Supreme Court The judgement was delivered by Baroness Hale The Supreme Court has ruled that an illegal immigrant from Tanzania has the right to stay in the UK because her two children were born in Britain. The woman arrived in the UK in December 1995 and made three unsuccessful claims for asylum, one in her own name and two using false identities. She met a British man and they had two children, now nine and 12, who are British citizens. The court said the woman's immigration history was "appalling". The Supreme Court heard the woman, known only as ZH, arrived in the UK in 1995. Two years after she arrived, she formed a relationship with a British man. They separated in 2005 but the father maintains regular contact with his children. ZH made three claims for asylum, one of the which came after the children's father was diagnosed with HIV in 2007. All three claims failed and immigration officials told her the children could be reasonably expected to leave the UK with their mother. But in its ruling the court said her removal from the UK would "constitute a disproportionate interference with her right to respect for her private and family life, guaranteed by article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights". It said removing her would not be in the interests of her two children. Giving the judgement, Baroness Hale said the need to maintain firm and fair immigration controls must be taken into account but the "best interests" of the children must be a "primary consideration". "This means that they must be considered first," said Lady Hale.

St Ann's - Haringey - 202 incidents
Fairfield - Croydon - 177 incidents
Holborn and Covent Garden - 175 incidents
Clementswood - Redbridge - 169 incidents
Lewisham Central - Lewisham - 168 incidents

Tropical Cyclone Yasi, recently upgraded to a category 4 storm, is bearing down on Queensland Australia and the Great Barrier Reef with wind speeds approaching 175 mph. Heavy precipitation resulting from a combination of Tropical Storm Tasha in late 2010, monsoon rains, and the strongest La Niña to hit the planet in 35 years – have inundated the region with floods deep enough for sharks to visit. Airport evacuations from Cairns and neighboring cities have been ongoing over the last several days. Cyclone Yasi follows on the heels of Tropical Storm Anthony that struck northern Queensland on Sunday with gusts of about 90 mph. On the other side of the country, Tropical Cyclone Bianca hit the brakes over the weekend downgrading to storm strength on Sunday and washed southward over Australia's west coast. - VIDEO

An unknown number of Kenyan workers in Dubai could be headed home as the global economic crunch takes its toll on the Persian Gulf city. And, like many other foreign workers who make up 90 per cent of Dubai’s population, the Kenyans are victims of ongoing layoffs. With economic growth estimated to dip to less than 3 per cent this year, down from 8 per cent last year, Dubai firms – and largely the United Arab Emirates – are drastically cutting down on staff. A report by banking giant HSBC has indicated that almost $75 billion (Sh5,250 billion) worth of property projects have been put on hold in Dubai. In its report, HSBC lists 59 projects under review, including eight that have been cancelled. High-cost residential and commercial developments are most at risk. A large number of Kenyans in Dubai work in the construction and infrastructure, hotel and entertainment and transport industries. Many more are employed as domestic workers. Another portion of the population is involved in business , going to buys goods which they later sell back home in Kenya. Hotels have also been affected, with revenue said to have fallen by a quarter in December, reflecting the fall in the number of visitors following the global downturn. In 2007, the government of Dubai said it wanted to grow at 11 per cent to 2011. With Dubai’s economy in free fall, newspapers have reported that more than 3,000 cars lie abandoned in the parking lot at the Dubai Airport, left by fleeing, debt-ridden foreigners — who risk imprisonment if they failed to pay their bills.

Some have left behind credit cards inside the cars, with notes of apology taped to the wind shield. Jobless people in Dubai lose their work visas and must leave within a month. According to Dubai Naturalization and Residency Department, 54,684 residency visas were cancelled in January 2011, compared to 29,418 in January 2008. This translates to about 1,764 a day. But 1,088 visas were issued daily in January, 1,000 fewer than in the same period of 2008. Private sector visas were the most cancelled. In October, 23,287 visas were cancelled while 25,609 were cancelled in November and 23,814 in December. Domestic help visas were the least cancelled, with just 2,686 cancelled in October while 3,031 and 2,906 were cancelled in November and December respectively. Dubai has experienced reduced spending, more housing vacancies and lower real estate prices, in a downward spiral that has left parts of Dubai — once hailed as the economic superpower of the Middle East — looking like a ghost town. A report by the New York Times says no one knows how bad things have become, though it is clear that tens of thousands have left, real estate prices crashed and scores of Dubai’s construction projects suspended or cancelled. But with the government unwilling to provide data, rumours are bound to flourish, damaging confidence and further undermining the economy. The Persian Gulf is cushioned by vast oil and gas wealth, and some who lost jobs in other parts of the world due to the financial melt-down began applying for jobs in Dubai. But Dubai, unlike Abu Dhabi or nearby Qatar and Saudi Arabia, does not have its own oil, and had built its reputation on real estate, finance and tourism.

A pastor at a Birmingham church has today been jailed for 15 months for forging documents and offering unqualified immigration advice to help foreign nationals illegally enter the UK. David Morrison, a pastor at the Word Life Centre, William Street North, Newtown, Birmingham, had pleaded guilty on 12 November 2010 to providing false representation in immigration cases having previously pleaded guilty on 28 October 2010 to perverting the course of justice. He was sentenced today at Birmingham Crown Court to 15 months for perverting the course of justice and to 9 months for providing false representation in immigration cases. The judge directed that the sentences should run concurrently. Morrison, 41, of Erdington, was arrested at his home on 21 April 2010 by officers from the UK Border Agency's West Midlands immigration crime team. Officers were acting on intelligence that Morrison had provided false bank statements and letters to Immigration Tribunals on behalf of foreign nationals who had appealed against decisions to remove them from the UK or to refuse them visas to come to the UK. The majority of these appeals were rejected. UK Border Agency investigators found that Morrison had also personally represented several cases at Immigration Appeal Tribunals even though he was not, as required by law, registered with the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner. Morrison had supplied a bank statement, when acting as a sponsor for a foreign national, which showed that he had over £150,000 in his account. Officers found, however, that his HSBC account had been closed several months previously with Morrison owing the bank £900. Immigration Minister Damian Green said:

'The UK Border Agency has undertaken a major enforcement campaign to crack down on immigration crime across the West Midlands, detaining, prosecuting and removing people and gangs who have been abusing the system through sham marriages, illegal working, people smuggling and document fraud. We are making more use of new technology both at the border and inland to enable officers to focus their efforts on people trying to cheat the system.

'Our proposals to tackle abuse by foreign nationals using student visas to gain work in the UK alongside new plans to toughen up marriage and family routes will, together with the changes already put in place this year, ensure that we bring net migration down to the tens of thousands.'

Detective Constable Chris Aldridge, from the UK Border Agency's immigration crime team, said:

'This man used what should be a respected position in the community to try and help foreign nationals with no right to be in the UK.

'We will bring before the courts anyone - whether they are a serious criminal or a supposed pillar of the community - who tries to abuse the immigration laws of this country.

'Our immigration crime teams are cracking down on immigration abuse all over the UK.'

1. The subject of Judicial appointments was first discussed at a meeting between the President and the Prime Minister held before Christmas, on December 16th 2010. During the meeting, the President felt that it would be better if the issue was revisited after the New Year.

2. The item of the appointments was subsequently placed in the agenda and discussed on January 6, 2011, at Harambee House between H.E. the President and The Rt. Hon. Prime Minister. The meeting agreed on the procedure to be followed in the appointments:

The identification and consultations on the nominations by the two principals and submission to parliament by H.E. the President for approval.
It was agreed that the law did not require the selection of the candidates by either the Judicial Service Commission or Public Service Commission.
The technical team was instructed to identify suitable candidates to facilitate further consultations. In the technical meetings it was observed that:
i. The Prime Minister had expressed the view that we should have a foreign Chief Justice.

ii. However, His Excellency the President insisted that at close to 50 years of independence we have very qualified Kenyans and to search for a Chief Justice outside Kenya would be improper and would send the wrong message to the Law Society of Kenya, the Legal Fraternity and the rest of Kenyans.

3. On Thursday, January, 27th, 2011, the item was on the agenda in a consultations meeting held from 12 noon between His Excellency the President and The Right Honourable Prime Minister, at Harambee House.

During the meeting, President Kibaki presented his proposal, borrowing on the consultations which had taken place between the technical teams representing him and the Prime Minister. The Proposal was:

The post of Deputy Chief Justice to be filled by a woman through the Judicial Service Commission.
Kioko Kilukumi for Director of Public Prosecution.
William Kirwa for Director of Budget.

4. In response, the Prime Minister said that if the President could not agree for a Judge from the Commonwealth to be Chief Justice, then he would insist on Justice Omollo for the position of Chief Justice.

5. The President pointed out that he needed to make the appointments before he left for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for the African Union meeting. It was therefore decided that the technical team would discuss the list and report back on the same day in the afternoon. The team comprised Amb. Francis Muthaura, Mr. Mohammed Isahakia, Prof. Nick Wanjohi and Mr. Caroli Omondi.

6. The technical team reported separately that they had agreed on three of the positions but were unable to agree on the position of the Chief Justice. The team presented three options for Chief Justice: Justice Omollo, Justice Kihara or Justice Visram for consideration by the Principals.

7. At the same time, the President asked the Prime Minister to propose an Attorney General to replace Mr. Ojiambo, as the job of the Attorney General, being the chief legal advisor of Government required higher post-graduate qualifications. Prof. Githu Muigai was proposed and agreed on by both technical sides.

8. The President said that because he was travelling to Addis Ababa on Saturday, the matter needed to be finalized by 12 noon on Friday, January 28, 2011. It was imperative that the proposals were made before the African Union's Heads of State meeting in Addis Ababa. This was made clear to the Prime Minister.

9. On Friday morning, January 28, 2011, the Prime Minister sent a letter signed by Mr. Caroli Omondi addressed to Amb. Muthaura saying that the Prime Minister had left for Addis Ababa and that consultation should be held the following week.

10. The Prime Minister was informed that because the matter needed to be concluded before the President left for Addis Ababa, consultations could be facilitated through the phone. The President then made the proposal of having Justice Visram as Chief Justice, who hails from a minority community to accommodate the Prime Minister's concerns of neutrality. The proposal was communicated to the Prime Minister. In response, the Prime Minister said he had no problem with Prof. Githu Muigai as Attorney General but insisted on Justice Omollo being nominated as Chief Justice.

11. The Prime Minister was asked to call the President from Addis Ababa so that they could finalize. The Prime Minister said he would call the President. The President waited at Harambee House from 12:30 pm until 3 pm but the Prime Minister did not call.

12. The President left for Statehouse for lunch at 3 pm, and a telephone number to reach the President at Statehouse was communicated to the Prime Minister so that he could call the President. The Prime Minister did not call.

13. At 6pm, the Statehouse Comptroller called the Prime Minister for the President to speak to him. Mr. Caroli Omondi answered the Prime Minister's phone. After consulting, Mr. Caroli Omondi said the
Prime Minister was busy and would call back after one and a half hours.

14. The President then felt that he had consulted extensively and had accommodated the Prime Minister and had fulfilled the constitutional requirements and therefore, made the announcement on Friday, January 28th 2011 at 8.30pm.

Sorghum and millets have been important staples in the semi-arid tropics of Africa and Asia for centuries. These crops are still the principal sources of energy, protein, vitamins and minerals for millions of the poorest people in these regions.

Sorghum and millets grow in harsh environments where other crops grow or yield poorly. They are grown with limited water resources by a multitude of small farmers in many countries, usually without the application of fertilizers or other inputs. Consumed by disadvantaged groups, they are often referred to as "coarse grain" or "poor people's crops". Sorghum and millets are not generally traded in the international markets or even in local markets in many countries, so small farmers seldom have an assured market in the event of surplus production.

The cultivated sorghum of the present arose from a wild progenitor belonging to the subspecies verticilliflorum. The sorghum kernel varies in colour from white through shades of red and brown to pale yellow to deep purple-brown. The most common colours are white, bronze and brown. Kernels are generally spherical but vary in size and shape. It appears that sorghum moved into eastern Africa from Ethiopia around 200 AD or earlier. The Bantu people, who used the grain mainly to make beer, adopted and carried it to the savannah countries of eastern and southern Africa. The Bantu people probably began their expansion from the region of southern Cameroon about the first century AD, moved along the southern border of the Congo forest belt and reached eastern Africa possibly before 500 AD. The present-day sorghums of central and southern Africa are closely related to those of the United Republic of Tanzania, and more distantly related to those of West Africa as the equatorial forests were an effective barrier to this spread.

Sorghum, probably taken to India from eastern Africa during the first millennium BC, is reported to have existed there around 1000 BC. Sorghum was probably taken in ships as food in the first instance. Chow traffic has operated for some 3 000 years between East Africa (the Azanean Coast) and India via the Sebaean Lane in southern Arabia. The sorghums of India relate to those of northeastern Africa and the coast between Cape Guardafui and Mozambique. The spread along the coast of Southeast Asia and around China may have taken place about the beginning of the Christian era, but it is also possible that sorghum arrived much earlier in China via the silk trade routes.

Grain sorghum appears to have arrived in America as "guinea corn" from West Africa with the slave traders about the middle of the nineteenth century. Although sorghum arrived in Latin America through the slave trade and by navigators plying the Europe-Africa-Latin America trade route in the sixteenth century, the crop did not become important until the present century.

Millet is one of the oldest foods known to humans and possibly the first cereal grain used for domestic purposes. Its use in making bread is mentioned in the Bible. In Africa and India, millet has been used as a staple food for thousand of years. It was grown as early as 2700 BC in China where it was the prevalent grain before rice became the dominant staple. Today millet ranks as the sixth most important grain in the world, sustains 1/3 of the worlds population and is a significant part of the diet in northern China, Japan, Manchuria and various areas of the former Soviet Union, Africa, India, and Egypt.

Millet is highly nutritious, non-glutinous and like buckwheat and quinoa, is not an acid forming food so is soothing and easy to digest. In fact, it is considered one of the least allergenic and most digestible grains available and it is a warming grain so will help to heat the body in cold or rainy seasons and climates.

Millet is tasty, with a mildly sweet, nut-like flavor and contains a myriad of beneficial nutrients. It is nearly 15% protein, contains high amounts of fiber, B-complex vitamins including niacin, thiamin, and riboflavin, the essential amino acid methionine, lecithin, and some vitamin E. It is particularly high in the minerals iron, magnesium, phosphorous, and potassium. The seeds are also rich in phytochemicals, including Phytic acid, believed to lower cholesterol, and Phytate, which is associated with reduced cancer.

Finger millet, Eleusine coracana L., is also known as African millet, koracan, ragi (India), wimbi (Swahili), bulo (Uganda) and telebun (the Sudan). The colour of grains may vary from white through orange-red deep brown and purple, to almost black. It is an important staple food in parts of eastern and central Africa and India. It is the principal cereal grain in northern and parts of western Uganda and northeastern Zambia. The grains are malted for making beer. Finger millet can be stored for long periods without insect damage and thus it can be important during famine. It is believed that Uganda or a neighbouring region is the centre of origin of E. coracana, and it was introduced to India at a very early date, probably over 3,000 years ago. Though finger millet is reported to have reached Europe at about the commencement of the Christian era, its utilization is restricted mostly to eastern Africa and India.

Alternative uses of sorghum and millet
Sorghum and millet production has considerably increased in several countries during the past few years. With the simultaneous increase in the production of wheat and rice, millets face competition from the utilization point of view. Already there is an increasing trend of using wheat or rice in place of sorghum even in those regions where sorghum had been the traditional staple grain in the past.

Sorghum and millets will continue to be major food crops in several countries, especially in Africa (and in particular in Nigeria and the Sudan, which together account for about 63 percent of Africa 's sorghum production). These grains are used for traditional as well as novel foods. However, there is a need to look into the possibilities of alternative uses. Though sorghum and millets have good potential for industrial uses, they have to compete with wheat, rice and maize.

Like other cereals, sorghum and millets are predominantly starchy. The protein content is nearly equal among these grains and is comparable to that of wheat and maize (Table1). Finger millet contains the lowest fat. One of the characteristic features of the grain composition of millets is their high ash content. They are also relatively rich in iron and phosphorus. Finger millet has high fibre content and the highest calcium content among all the food grains. Generally, the whole grains are important sources of B-complex vitamins, which are mainly concentrated in the outer bran layers of the grain. Sorghum and millets do not contain vitamin A, although certain yellow endosperm varieties contain small amounts of 13-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A. No vitamin C is present in the raw millet grains.

Differences in grain composition in genotypes of millets have been reported. In finger millet, the value ranges reported are protein, 5.8 to 12.8 percent; fat, 1.3 to 2.7 percent; total ash, 2.1 to 3.7 percent; and carbohydrate 81.3 to 89.4 percent. Variations in the mineral content of these varieties were also large. Differences in the protein and mineral composition of finger millet hybrids have also been reported.

Grain protein and its amino acid composition in sorghum differ with the location at which the crop is grown. The level of nitrogen fertilizer also influences the quantity and quality of protein in sorghum and it is noted that application of nitrogen fertilizer increases the grain yield and protein, but had no effect on the mineral composition of grain sorghum. However, the mineral content of the sorghum does increase with increasing levels of phosphorus fertilizer. Other factors such as the density of the plant population, season, water and stress also contribute to variations in gram composition.

There is rampant corruption at various levels in the health sector especially in the procurement of drugs and medical supplies, a new report has revealed. The report titled ‘Kenya Health Sector Integrity Study Report' by Transparency International indicates that recruitment and promotion processes in the health sector are plagued by corruption, nepotism and tribalism and influenced by politicians and other interested parties. The report allso decries the acute shortage of medicine and other essential supplies in public hospitals and recommends the development of national or regional centres of excellence to provide training on essential management and professional skills. It also calls for the strengthening of the human resource management system in ministries of medical services and public health and sanitation, fair distribution of medical staff in the country and the provision of incentives like salary increase and training opportunities to staff working in hardship areas. Speaking at the launch of the report TI-Kenya Executive Director, Samuel Kimeu Mbithi patients who participated in the survey accused nurses and other medical personnel of hoarding drugs and secretly supplying them to private pharmacies where patients are directed to purchase them after missing the drugs in public hospitals. Mbithi said the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA) lacks the institutional capacity, autonomy, financial and human resource capacity to procure and supply drugs efficiently and effectively to public hospitals since it works under the influence of senior medical services ministry staff or politicians. He said the slow procurement processes by KEMSA, lengthy ministerial consultations between the ministries of finance and medical services led to inflated tenders and budget limitations. The TI boss said conflicts over duplicated or overlapping functions between Medical Services and Public Health and Sanitation ministries pose the greatest challenge in implementation of policies. "There is need to review the procurement procedure and law to make it more responsive especially with regard to procurement of drugs. KEMSA should be given autonomy to curb interference by high ranking health officials and political interests," he said. Both the medical services and public health and sanitation ministries received Ksh 41.5 billion in the 2010/11 financial year which Mbithi said was insufficient considering the myriad challenges facing the health sector. These include acute shortage of qualified health workers, poorly remunerated health personnel, shortage of drugs and medical supplies in public health institutions and unaffordable health services.

29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew [1] their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

With Dubai’s economy in free fall, newspapers have reported that more than 3,000 cars lie abandoned in the parking lot at the Dubai Airport, left by fleeing, debt-ridden foreigners — who risk imprisonment if they failed to pay their bills.

(Reuters) - Euro zone inflation rose more than expected in January to further above the European Central Bank's target, but the bank seems more likely for now to step up its rhetoric on price pressures than raise interest rates. Inflation in the 17 countries using the euro rose to 2.4 percent year-on-year, the European Union's statistics office Eurostat estimated on Monday, holding above the ECB's target of just below 2 percent for the second month running after hitting 2.2 percent in December. January's rate was the highest since October 2008, when it was 3.2 percent. Economists polled by Reuters had expected 2.3 percent. While analysts have attributed the rising price pressures mainly to increases in non-core energy costs, the data boosted the euro against the dollar as it kept alive the view that interest rates in the euro zone may rise sooner than previously thought. The ECB, which aims to keep inflation below but close to 2 percent, next meets on interest rates on Thursday, when it will also face the problem of how to respond to stark discrepancies between the pace of recovery in different euro zone states. "While the ECB will be far from happy to see euro zone consumer price inflation move further above target..., it is still highly unlikely to prompt the bank into action at its February policy meeting," said Howard Archer, economist at IHS Global Insight. "It will probably step up its anti-inflation rhetoric and stress that it is prepared to hike interest rates despite growth risks if the current spike-up ... shows any significant sign of leading to a significant pick-up in second round inflationary effects, such as rising wage settlements." Any wage pressures would be most likely to emerge in Europe's growth engine Germany, where the IG Metall union has demanded hikes of 6 percent for workers at carmaker Volkswagen (VOWG.DE) and last week rejected an offer of 2.9 percent. BNP Paribas economist Clemente de Lucia said oil prices were probably the main factor behind the January number, having risen more than 3 euros per barrel in one month and almost 37 percent year-on-year.

FOOD PRICES PRESSURES LOW
De Lucia said food prices were probably stable in January, but core inflation, which excludes food and energy prices, probably increased to 1.2 percent from 1.1 percent. In its quarterly bulletin published on Monday in Dublin, the Irish central bank said there was little evidence that high commodity prices were affecting food prices in the euro zone. No monthly figure or breakdown of the year-on-year estimate was available from Eurostat, and full inflation data for January will be released on February 28. The ECB has said it expected prices to grow faster than its target in the coming months, peaking at 2.4 percent in March and then subsiding. ECB Governing Council member Ewald Nowotny said last Tuesday he did not expect a decision to raise interest rates in the first half of the year.

(Reuters) - The threat of a long period of high inflation in Europe is worrying policymakers and business leaders because in contrast to the past decade, much of the inflationary pressure may come from Germany. In the 12 years since the single currency was launched in 1999, euro zone inflation has frequently been above the European Central Bank's target of just below 2 percent, but it has only held at or above 2.5 percent for two periods exceeding a month. Sluggish growth and prices in Germany, where consumer price numbers account for just over a quarter of the weighting for euro zone inflation data, generally offset rapid inflation in smaller states such as Ireland and Spain. Now, however, high wage demands in Europe's largest economy, loose monetary policy and rising food and fuel prices may create the opposite situation: an extended period of inflationary pressure with much of it stemming from Germany.

Central Bank of Kenya Governor Prof Njuguna Ndung’u shortly after unveiling a plaque to officially open the Chase Bank in Nakuru town on January28, 2011. The Governor on January 31, 2011 asked mobile phone companies to reduce charges for their cash transfer services.

Mobile phone operators, who are still smarting from the recent drop in calling rates, are facing another war front after the Central Bank of Kenya termed the cost of their money transfer services as too high. CBK governor, Prof Njuguna Ndung’u, said on Monday he expects the operators — Safaricom, Airtel Kenya, Telkom Kenya, trading as Orange, and Essar Telecom, trading as yu — to announce new charges for their services. “They must bring down the unit cost of their money transfer services. There is no way one can send Sh50 at Sh35. We expect to see new tariffs very soon,” the governor said. His call comes hot on the heels of Airtel Kenya’s recent tariff promotion in which it reduced its calling rates from Sh3 to Sh1, triggering condemnation from its competitors who termed the move as unsustainable. He revealed that the reduction is among the conditions the operators agreed to before CBK allowed them to review the limits on the amount that can be transferred from Sh35,000 to Sh70,000 per transaction.

“If they refuse (to reduce the transaction costs), we will refuse to approve the limits. It is not a choice of how much they have to charge but how affordable and reasonable the charge is,” Mr Ndung’u said during a financial education implementation programme briefing to business editors and reporters in his office. Although the phone companies fall under the industry regulator, Communication Commission of Kenya, their money transfer services is regulated by CBK, the banking industry regulator. But when contacted, Safaricom chief executive officer Bob Collymore, said their M-Pesa charges represent true value for money. “We constantly review our charges to ensure they are at one with market dynamics and the needs of our subscribers. Should we institute new charges, we shall share the information with the market,” Mr Collymore said. His Telkom Kenya counterpart, Mickael Ghossein, said since the customers are directly manipulating their bank accounts from the phones, the costs of their service, Orange Money, are cheaper in terms of time and money compared to physically going to the bank branch. “But we are studying carefully the transaction trends and customer demands and will be revising our tariff structure accordingly,” he said. – Daily Nation.

In Indonesia subsistence whalers from the village of Lamalera are also after a marine bounty – a huge sperm whale. Using bamboo harpoons, in their wooden boats, the men take on the whale in an almighty battle of wits and skill. If they succeed, their village will have food for months.

Andreas Muller, 39, has gone to extreme lengths to win himself a car - having the word ‘Mini’ tattooed on to his penis. The crazy German decided to have the rather painful tattoo after a radio station ran a competition to win a £20,000 Mini Cooper. The brief: whoever pulled the craziest stunt to get the car would win. Unsurprisingly, Muller’s offer to have the car manufacturer’s name branded on to his penis topped the list of crazy suggestions. ‘There were a lot of crazy stunts put forward by listeners, but Andreas won by a short head,’ said one of the competition’s organisers. Radio listeners were then treated to Muller’s cries of agony while the unique piece of branding was created. Muller claims the pain was worth it, saying: ‘Once I’m sitting in the car, it won’t matter anymore. Then the pain will be gone and it’ll be alright.’ It has not been reported whether or not Mr Muller has a girlfriend.

A carer has been jailed after stealing more than £5,000 from an elderly woman suffering from dementia. Sarah Kakigotho, also known as Kigotho, was handed a jail sentence of 18 months at Cambridge Crown Court on Tuesday 25th January, 2011 after having previously admitted three counts of fraud by false representation and three counts of theft. The court heard the 37-year-old had arrived in the UK ten years ago on a visitors’ visa she has long since overstayed. Sara Walker, prosecuting, said the victim was Mary Hoy, who will turn 85 this April, and lives in Newmarket Road, Melbourn. Ms Walker said: “This lady suffers from dementia and suffers mobility difficulties and requires live in care. “The defendant went to live with Mrs Hoy who was employed through a care home agency based near Saffron Walden.” In court the agency was named as Care At Home. Judge Anthony Bate said the public “might be understandably concerned” Kakigotho was able to “bypass checks” to get the job. Ms Walker said Mrs Hoy’s son James noticed her weekly expenditure had risen and suspected his mother’s card had been cloned. Ms Walker said: “He told his mother of his suspicions. The defendant was in the room at the time. He noticed the defendant became very agitated when he talked about the fact physical evidence would be available.”

Kakigotho told the family she was going to Addenbrooke’s to have her leg attended to and they didn’t see her again. Ms Walker said there were 28 occasions whereby money had been stolen from Mrs Hoy from mid-May to July last year, including ATM withdrawals, seven cheques and catalogue transactions. A further 13 offences including four of making false representation and nine of theft, on top of the charges, were taken into consideration when sentencing took place. In total the offences related to £5,016, Ms Walker said. But she added the victim’s son, identified this figure as £5,796. She said for the purposes of sentencing these figures fell under the same category. The court heard Kakigotho was “under pressure to return money to her mother”. Edmund Blackman, mitigating, said she comes from “humble origins” in Kenya where she grew up in a small, wooden house with no plumbing or water. He said she obtained the job as a carer by using someone else’s passport. Mr Blackman said: “She suffers from schizophrenia. She was an inpatient at a psychiatric unit at the time of her arrest.” He said proceedings to deport her are already underway, and she will “end up destitute and seriously ill on the streets of Nairobi”. Kakigotho was already serving a prison sentence after previously being sentenced to 12 months in jail at Blackfriars Crown Court in November last year after pleading guilty to possessing false identification documents. Judge Bate said: “You have used to find work no fewer than eight names including the name you under which you appear in this court.” He added: “This was a sustained raid on an elderly lady’s account. “I have no doubt this offending was underpinned by greed.” The 18-month prison sentence will run concurrently to the Blackfriars matter. John Towers, HR director at Care at Home, said after the hearing: “As a company we deeply regret that despite carrying out the usual pre-employment checks on this lady, including verification of identity and address and a CRB and ISA search, she was able to slip through the net by using what ultimately transpired was a forged passport. “Once the lady’s crimes came to light, we acted decisively to help secure her arrest and have offered the client compensation for any financial loss suffered. “It is worth mentioning that we are still looking after this client, in fact, having maintained a good relationship with the family and indeed worked together with them to help bring this lady to justice.”

Nairobi, Monday 1st February, 2011. The Judicial Service Commission has rejected the nominations made by President Mwai Kibaki to the positions of Chief Justice, Attorney General, Director of Public Prosecutions and Controller of the budget. The Commission says it should have been fully involved in the recruitment process. Section 172 of the new constitution gives the commission the mandate to conduct the recruitment exercise and shortlist candidates for appointment to positions in the Judiciary. Addressing the press at the Nairobi High Court Monday, JSC secretary Lydia Achode said the law gives the commission the mandate to conduct the recruitment exercise. "There is an urgent need for a rethink of the matter and put the country first. That entails a withdrawal of the nominations and a fresh start," she said. On Friday, President Kibaki nominated Court of Appeal judge Alnashir Visram to be Chief Justice, Prof Githu Muigai as Attorney General, and Kioko Kilukumi as Director of Public Prosecutions. The President also picked former Agricultural Development Corporation managing director William Kirwa as Controller of Budget. But Prime Minister Raila Odinga has come out to state that he was not consulted in the nominations as required by law, sparking a controversy. He maintains that the appointments were unfairly done. A statement from the Presidential Press Service said the appointments had been made after consultations with the Prime Minister and in accordance with the Constitution. The names of the nominees have to be vetted by parliament before being taken back to the president for approval. Meanwhile, Gichugu MP Martha Karua has said that the Executive has taken the powers of another arm of Government in naming a nominee to be vetted for the office of Chief Justice. She said only the JSC had the mandate to shortlist candidates for appointment to positions in the Judiciary. She said that the naming of Justice Alnashir Visram as a nominee for Chief Justice by President Mwai Kibaki was illegal and the schedule annexed to the new Constitution should not supersede the Constitution itself which bestows the appointment of judicial officers on the Commission. She added that those charged with the task of implementing the new constitution should avoid taking shortcuts and Kenyans needed to be vigilant to ensure such shortcuts did not rob them of the gains that came with the new Constitution. Elsewhere, the Constitution Implementation Commission tasked with overseeing that the due process is followed in operationalization of the new constitution spent the better part of the day locked in a meeting in bid to find a way forward over the nominations. The row over the nominations has sparked yet another stand off in the Grand Coalition government and the battle could further escalate on the floor of the House if indeed the list of the controversial nominees is tabled in parliament as it is.

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We can survive for weeks without food, but only days without water: it is the essential element of life. Yet many millions of us live in parched deserts around the world. In the second episode of Human Planet, we discover how the eternal quest for water brings huge challenges - and ingenious solutions - in the driest places on Earth. Battling through a sand storm in Mali, Mamadou must get his cows to a remote lake but desert elephants have arrived first. Can he find a safe way through the elephant blockade? Alone for weeks on end, Tubu women and children navigate the endless dunes of the Sahara. How does young Shede know where to find the last oasis, three days walk across the sea of sand? At the height of the drought we witness a spectacular frenzy: two thousand men rushing into Antogo Lake to catch the fish trapped by the evaporating water. When the rain finally arrives in the desert it's a time for flowering and jubilation - and love. The Wodaabe men of Niger put on make-up for an intoxicating courtship dance and beauty contest. - VIDEO

Three-quarters of a million people are set to become higher rate taxpayers as a result of Government reforms to the system, a report has indicated. Around 750,000 people will start paying income tax of 40% on their earnings from April 5 due to the decision to reduce the threshold at which the higher rate kicks in to £35,001, from £37,400 this year, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS). But around 500,000 people will be lifted out of paying income tax altogether, as a result of the £1,000 increase in the amount people can earn tax-free, raising the threshold to £7,475. Overall, the group estimates that the average household will be £200 a year worse off as a result of the tax increases and benefit cuts. The Government is also increasing the main rate at which National Insurance is charged from 11% to 12% from the start of the new tax year, while people will also be charged 2% not 1% on earnings above £42,484. The changes are bad news for households, with many families already struggling in the face of high inflation and stagnant earnings growth. The IFS said the reforms would hit higher income households the hardest, with some people in this group also likely to be affected by the new restrictions on how much can be paid into a pension tax-free each year. It estimates that the richest 10% of people will lose 3% of their net income from April 6, compared with a 1% loss for the population as a whole. Those with the highest incomes have already been hit by the new 50% tax rate for people earning more than £150,000 and the loss of the personal tax allowance for those on more than £100,000. At the other end of the spectrum, people reliant on means-tested benefits will see their incomes hit by the Government's decision to increase payments in line with inflation as measured by the Consumer Prices Index, rather than the Retail Prices Index, which tends to be higher. CPI was running at 3.1% in September, the month that benefit increases are based on, while RPI was considerably higher at 4.8%. A Treasury spokesman said: "Stable, balanced public finances benefit everyone as they create the right conditions for growth and help keep interest rates down. The Government have had to make tough choices but have always been clear that those with the broadest shoulders should carry the greatest burden. "It's a matter of fairness. We cannot justify taxing the poorest to pay benefits such as tax credits and child benefit to higher earners. The changes to be made in April mean that tax credits will be targeted at those who need them most. "At the same time personal tax changes will remove nearly a million of the lowest earners out of tax altogether, and around 23 million basic rate taxpayers will gain by £170 per annum on average in 2011-12."

As an air-breathing animal, the human is not built to survive in water. But people have found ways to live an almost aquatic life so they can exploit the sea's riches. From a 'shark-whisperer' in the Pacific to Brazilian fishermen collaborating with dolphins to catch mullet, this journey into the blue reveals astonishing tales of ingenuity and bravery. Daredevil Galician barnacle-collectors defy death on the rocks for a catch worth 200 pounds per kilo. In Indonesia an epic whale-hunt, using traditional hand-made boats and harpoons, brings in a sperm whale. The Bajau 'sea gypsies' of the Sulu Sea spend so much time on water they get 'land sick' when they set foot on the land! We dive 40 metres down to the dangerous world of the Pa-aling fishermen, where dozens of young men, breathing air through a tangled web of pipes attached to a diesel engine, capture thousands of fish in a vast net. We see how surfing has its origins in the ancient beliefs of the ocean-loving Polynesians, and we join a Borneo free-diving spear-fisherman on a breath-taking journey 20 metres down in search of supper. - VIDEO

President Mwai Kibaki Monday thanked the African Union (AU) for supporting Kenya 's position that the International Criminal Court (ICC) proceedings be deferred. President Kibaki appreciated the AU's understanding and overwhelming support on the matter, saying the move would restore Kenya's and Africa's dignity and sovereignty. "I have noted with appreciation the report of the Executive Council on this matter as well as the support for our request for deferment of the ICC proceedings, in line with Article 16 of the Rome Statute, and wish to reaffirm this request by my country," President Kibaki said. The President made the remarks when he addressed the 16th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Saying Kenya is going through a historic transformation based on a strong desire to ensure justice for all, particularly the victims of the post-election violence, President Kibaki pointed out that the Government has fully cooperated with the International Criminal Court investigations that commenced in early 2010. The Head of State, however, said his Government is also aware that the primary responsibility in exercising criminal jurisdiction lies with the state. "This is why the Government is preparing the ground for local trials of those responsible for all post election crimes," President Kibaki said. In this regard, the President emphasized that the Government has embarked on reforms of key national institutions of governance including the police, the judiciary and the state law office among others.

President Kibaki, at the same time, said Kenya is fully committed to the theme of this year's AU Summit on shared values and principles of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance which is demonstrated by the adoption of a new constitution by majority of Kenyans last August that entrenches democracy the rule of law, social justice and equity. Said President Kibaki: "The constitution offers new opportunities to enhance national cohesion and provides devolution of power and popular participation in governance. My country attaches great significance to these values." The President reiterated that the protection and advancement of human rights on the continent is equally important for Kenya, adding that the new constitution of Kenya contains an elaborate bill of rights, including socio and economic rights. Noting that the African Union Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance to which Kenya is a signatory commits member states to observe the rule of law, respect human rights and promote democratic governance, President Kibaki observed that these values are the cornerstones for peace and development. The Head of State said Kenya recognizes that democracy and development can only be realized if there is respect for human rights, the rule of law and good governance.

Pastor Amos Ngugi, left, the founder of Acts of Compassion Project and right, in one of the Saturday Counselling session

A Kenyan-born, and former chaplain, is trying to reach out to minorities struggling with emotionnal and addiction issues in Ireland. Pastor Amos Ngugi, who is a hospital chaplain by profession, a graduate in Criminalogy, Forensic Psychology and Addiction Counselling, established the Acts of Compassion Project group after he noted significant levels of emotional distress within the African communities – and a lack of information on the dangers of drugs. The Project group, which has a Christian ethos, although participants are of all faiths and none, provides guidance to people living with drug and alcohol addiction, depression, and social issues. To date the project has five volunteers and the aim of Pastor Ngugi and his volunteers is to offer guidance in a safe environment where people can feel free to express themselses and address the problems they're experiencing. By the end of year, 2010, over 1200 people had attended Acts of Compassion Ministries’ weekend programmes with a good number being reached through one-to-one, outreach, largely at asylum seeker's hostels.

While officially opening the Acts of Compassion Project Seminar, which was held on Friday 28th January, 2011 at Wynns Hotel in Dublin, Ireland, Pastor Ngugi, who regularly visits asylum seekers' centres, said that a lot of asylum seekers' problems are due to loneliness, depression, doing nothing in the hostels, and some of them have problems with drugs such as cocaine". Disallowing asylum seekers from 'independent living' is a driver behind their addiction and emotional issues, he added. “You have people in the hostels for long periods of time, they cannot work while their applications are being processed, and they are helpless to provide an independent living of their own. They get very frustrated and some turn to things like drugs", he concluded.

The Seminar, which was the first one to be held this year, and had 'Suicide Thought and Depression', as the theme, was attended by many people of all walks. Among the guest speakers was the Area Member of Parliament, T. D. Maureen, who said that Pastor Amos' programmes have touched a lot of people in Dublin who are suffering from depression issues and have drug and acohol addiction problems. The seminar was also addressed by Senator James Carrol who said that he has known Pastor Amos for a long time and his programmes have touched many in Co Louth, in Ireland. Senator Carrol added that he was there when Acts of Compassion Project launched 70,000 information leaflets about harm in drugs to the ethnic community. This information was, also, echoed by Mr. Mel of Task Force, who said that the impact of the work done by Acts of Cmpassion Project is wide in the City of Dublin.

In his closing message, Pastor Amos said that he would like people to know that Acts of Compassion Project can be able to help those with problems of drugs addiction, sex addiction, internet addiction-staying in the TV screen for a long time, shopping addiction-which makes someone to become a 'Shop-lifter' and many others. MORE TO FOLLOW.

African health scientists have discovered that many of the intricate biochemical processes that govern the body can be influenced by the presence or absence of certain vitamins, minerals, or nutrients. The ailments that African people suffer from today are based on our improper diet and lifestyle. Remember that African biochemistry is based on the melanin molecule which is dominant in Africans. Western health science is based on white body chemistry, and is incompatible with the African body type.

Nitrilosides (Vitamin B-17) is a designation proposed to include a large group of water-soluble, essentially non-toxic, sugary, compounds found in many edible plants. Nitrilosides are found in great abundance in a very wide variety of vegetable foods once eaten in great abundance by man. There are approximately 14 naturally occurring nitrilosides distributed in over 1,200 species of plants. The natural fodder of animals is similarly rich in this factor. No area on the earth that supports vegetation lacks nitriloside-containing plants. Beta-cyanogenetic glucosides are found in 13 per cent of the plant families, and of this 13 per cent, 46 per cent are tropical.

Nitrilosides are comprised of molecules made of sugar, hydrogen cyanide, a benzene ring or an acetone. These factors are collectively known as Beta-cyanogenetic glycosides. Though the intact molecule is for all practical purposes completely non-toxic, nitrilosides can be hydrolyzed, by an enzyme present in our bodies called beta-glycosidase, to a sugar, free hydrogen cyanide, benzaldehyde or acetone. Because of our cultural antipathy to cyanide, western food technology has made every conceivable effort through processing, hybridizing, distilling, etc., to remove every trace of derivable cyanide from foods for man and animals. Although it is literally true to say that nitrilosides contain cyanide, a deadly poison, it is also true to say that table salt, sodium chloride, contains the deadly poison, chlorine. Under normal conditions, the chlorine in salt and the cyanide in nitrilosides is tightly bound and in no danger of suddenly "leaking out".

Chewing of cyanogenic foods usually frees or hydrolizes much cyanide by mixing the resident nitriloside with the splitting enzyme b-glucosidase. That is why cooking the undisturbed plant tissue is important (neutralizing the splitting enzyme). By stabilizing the nitriloside in this way the cyanide is released more selectively at the sites of high b-glucosidase production, i.e., cancer cells and concentrations of bacterial infestation.

Cyanogenetic glycosides have been found in the following common vegetables: maize, sorghum, millet, field bean, lima bean, kidney bean, sweet potato, cassava, lettuce, linseed [flaxseed], almond and seeds of lemons, limes, cherries, apples, apricots, prunes, plums and pears. Their widespread presence in foods consumed by humans and animals all over the world argues against nitrilosides being seriously or inherently toxic.

African Traditional Diet, Nitriloside Foods and Cancer

Nitriloside-rich plants and foods are a vital part of an amazing biochemical process in the African body type. For centuries, nitriloside-rich plants were used by Africans as a food and medicinal agent without manifesting any side effects. It is found in the seeds of those fruits in the Prunus Africanus and Prunus Rosacea species of plants. It can also be found in grasses, sorghum, millet, cassava, and many other foods that generally have been removed from the foods of Western civilisation. This diet has been one of the deciding factors that protected the integrity of the biochemical processes in African people. Wherever "primitive peoples" eat their traditional natural diet, their intake of nitrilosides is high, and their cancer incidence is low. Preventing the formation of cancer cells, appear to be closely related to the traditional African diet.

It is significant that prior to African peoples arrival to the Americas, there were no known records of them contracting cancer while maintaining their traditional diet. Millet was once Africa s staple grain. It is high in nitriloside content. In fact, missionary and medical journals have recorded many cancer-free tribes all over Africa . From all over the African continent, the one thing Africans have in common is that the degree to which they are free from cancer is in direct proportion to the amount of nitriloside found in their diet. As much as 80% of the tropical African diet consists of nitriloside and thiocyanate yielding foods. The main staples of sub-Sahara Africa are cassava, yams, sorghum, and millet grains.

Biochemical Process of Nitriloside against Cancer Cells

The nitriloside compound is a crystalline structure which contains two units of glucose (sugar), one of benzaldehyde, and one of cyanate, which are tightly bonded together. Locked together in this natural state, it is completely inert chemically and has absolutely no effect on human tissue. There is only one substance that can unlock the nitriloside molecule and release the cyanate and benzaldehyde. That substance is an enzyme called beta-glucosidase, which is known as the unlocking enzyme. When the nitriloside molecule comes in contact with this enzyme in the presence of water, both the cyanide and benzaldehyde are released, which are high toxic by themselves. Now both of these substances working together are at least a hundred times more poisonous than either of them separately. This phenomenon is known in biochemistry as synergism.

Perhaps the most interesting fact of all about this biochemical process is that the unlocking enzyme is not found anywhere in the body except at the cancer cells, where it is always present in large quantities, as much as one hundred times that of the normal cells. The result is that the nitriloside molecule is unlocked at the cancer cell site, releases its poisons to the cancer cell, and only to the cancer cell!

Another important enzyme in this process is called Rhodanese, which is called the protecting enzyme. This is because it has the ability to neutralize the cyanate by converting it instantly into nourishing by-products, which are actually beneficial and essential to health. But more than that, the protecting enzyme is found in great quantities in all parts of the body except at the cancer cell site, which prevents the cancer cells from being protected. On the other hand, healthy cells are protected, because of the excess of this enzyme which completely neutralizes the effect of the unlocking enzyme.

There are voluminous private records and medical papers written and published by well-known nutritionists, and physicians who have used nitriloside therapy in the treatment of their own cancer patients, with an effectiveness approaching 100%! It has been used to control and cure breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, skin cancer, and colon cancer, without any toxic side-effects.

Controlling of Sickle Cell Anemia through the Traditional African Diet

Another benefit of the traditional African diet is the connection between nitriloside plants and the control of sickle cell anemia. In Africa , and other parts of the world, people of African descent have developed sickle cells in the blood apparently as a natural immunity to malaria. The development of the sickle cell trait was dependent, in part, on the nitrilosidic chemistry of the native African diet. Once Africans were transported to the Caribbean and the Americas , their diet became deficient in the nutrients needed to inhibit cell sickling in the blood. The result is the painful hemolytic crisis caused by the clumping of the red blood cells. According to research developed by Dr. Robert Huston which appeared in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 1974, he learned that sickle cell anemia could be controlled by cyanate tablets. However, cyanate is also produced by nitriloside plants acting within the body, and it seems logical to assume that this is the way nature intended it to be taken.

According to Barbara Dixsons book, Good Health for African Americans, In Africa , an estimated 25 percent of the population carry the sickle cell trait, yet the incidence of sickle cell disease itself is rare. In fact, from 1925 to 1950, it was estimated that fewer than one hundred cases of sickle cell anemia were reported throughout the continent.

As is well-known, sickle cell anemia is relatively rare in the Caribbean . Those with the sickle cell condition are found living healthy into old age, and few ever experience serious crises. In fact, the Jamaican diet is rich in thiocyanate where cassava and yams are staples. It is proposed that sickle cell anemia represents an unrelieved nutritional condition which is dependent on the presence of thiocyanate and nitrilosides in Africans who are genetically predisposed to the disease. The significance of this research is that the solution to sickle cell anemia can be found in the field of nutrition rather than drugs, blood thinners, and blood transfusions.

Health Benefits of a Traditional African Diet on High Blood Pressure and Heart Disease

Another welcomed consequence of eating nitrilosides and thiocyanate plant foods is that they prevent high blood pressure, arthritis and rheumatism, gastrointestinal disorders, and cardiovascular disease. Thiocyanate also was once widely used, in both Germany and American medicine, as an effective agent for hypertension. Used as such, as the simple chemical, the dosage was difficult to control. Obviously, this difficulty does not arise from the thiocyanate usually produced in the body through metabolizing nitrilosides. Chronic hypotension has been reported in Nigerians who eat large quantities of the nitriloside-containing manioc (cassava)--especially that of the bitter variety.

But, more than that, thiocyanate is known as a natural regulator of blood pressure, which helps to prevent hypertension (high blood pressure) in African physiology. High blood pressure is a condition in which the muscles in the walls of the arteries constrict, causing the heart to pump harder or in which arteries have lost their elasticity due to arteriosclerosis. One of its underlying causes is a deficiency of African Nutritional Factors. Dr. Afrika states in his book, African Holistic Health:

Hypertension is usually caused by a lack of proper nutrition. Improper nutrition weakens the internal organs, immune system, and lowers the organs abilities to utilize nutrients which feed the body. The body begins to starve because the loss of proper nutrients creates a nutritional debt. Moreover, the nutritionally starved body tries to get more nutrients to pay the debt. Consequently, the body demands more food (nutrients in the blood ) by drawing on more (below-nutrient-level) blood. In order to increase the blood supply the body begins to increase the pressure. The increase in pressure is the bodys attempt to feed itself. The body is merely defending itself by reacting with high blood pressure caused by a poor diet lacking in essential plant nutrients.

Traditional African doctors consider heart disease (arteriosclerosis, heart attack, stroke, and hypertension) to be a combination of poor nutrition and destructive eating habits. When this occurs, there is a tendency for cholesterol to accumulate in the arterial lining. The major cause is a loss of vein and artery flexibility due to a lack of biochemical precursors and enzymes which prevents the artery walls from deteriorating. These chemical precursors have been found in natural foods containing nitrilosides.

Arthritis and Rheumatism

The fact is nitriloside food factors also serve as biochemical mechanisms in African physiology to prevent rheumatism and arthritis. Once they enter into the blood stream, derivative compounds called "salicylates" are produced. This natural compound helps to fend off arthritis and rheumatism. Some African health practitioners including myself attest to the theory that many toxins bind to cell membranes and disturb cellular metabolic functions, and can cause tissue damage which contribute to many of the symptoms of rheumatism, arthritis, and muscle aches. Intestinal bacteria - "Proteus mirabilis", for example, an organism recently implicated in rheumatoid arthritis, is believed to be produced by the toxic waste in the body causing painful joint inflammations.

Whereas rheumatoid arthritis disease afflicts millions of people of African descent in the U.S., affecting one in 10, very few cases have been reported among the larger populations of tropical Africa. This has defied explanation in Western health sciences. According to African traditional medicine, rheumatism and arthritis is a disease reaction which creates inflammation caused by crystallized urine and toxic waste. These impurities accumulate around the joints, bone lining and connective tissues. Arthritis is waste in the bone joints while rheumatism is waste in the muscles. Both of these diseases are caused by the same thing - excessive fat and meat, synthetic foods, and a poor diet deficient in thiocyanates and nitrilosides.

In this connection, Robert Houston, M.D., author of Sickle Cell Anemia and the Metabolites of Vitamin B17, compared the rate of rheumatoid arthritis between African-Americans and continental Africans. He found that Africans living in West Africa and throughout tropical Africa only experienced rare cases of rheumatism, arthritis, and osteoarthritis where millet and sorghum grains are staples. Both millet and sorghum are very high in calcium. He also found that a "salicylic acid isomer" is nutritionally produced from the nitriloside in millet and sorghum grains which works in the body to nourish healthy tissue and joints.

Experiments conducted by Dr. Ernest Krebs have indicated that trace amounts of cyanate and benzaldehyde released in the mouth and intestines are a part of the delicate balance of nature and serve beneficial effects in the human body. In the mouth and stomach, these chemicals apparently attack the bacteria associated with tooth decay and bad breath. The large and small intestines are home for over four hundred different kinds of microorganisms, mostly bacteria, flora, and some fungi. These microorganisms live in harmonious, symbiotic relationship with us, provided the conditions are favorable and the friendly bacteria (Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus bifidus) are sufficient in quantity. These bacteria feed on the fermentable carbohydrates in our diet (found in grains, beans, vegetables, fruits, roots, and seeds). The thiocyanates are secreted in bile, saliva, and urine; they are formed by the detoxication of small quantities of cyanide from plant foods. If the African body type lacks in a sufficient diet rich in nitrilosides and thiocyanate plant foods, it causes a decrease in the number of favorable intestinal bacteria and a subsequent increase in unfavorable organisms. This is the beginning of many problems such as gas and constipation, yeast infections, to colon and rectal cancer. Thus, nitrilosides and thiocyanate interact with the bacterial micro-flora in the stomach and colon to suppress or eliminate the ailments associated with westernized foods.

The staple foods of many tropic peoples are high in cyanogenetic glucosides. Cassava, sweet potatoes, sorghum, millet, maize and various beans contain varying amounts of nitrilosides. The major staple of Nigeria is cassava. Ugandan diets are usually rich in cassava, millet and sweet potatoes.

Unfortunately, methods of preparation of these foods vary greatly from tribe to tribe, for which reason there is considerable variation of the nitriloside content of the final product. Without more data on dietary nitriloside contents, it becomes extremely difficult to attempt a correlation between cancer incidence and nitriloside intake. However, there is little doubt that tropical diets may in some instances produce significant serum cyanide levels.

The diets of Nigeria and Uganda were different from those of Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) in that the agriculture of Rhodesia is run by the white farmers who control 95% of the good farm land, thus distorting the dietary profile of the native population to resemble the European model. Hence they're much lower nitriloside intake and higher cancer rates as compared to the Nigerians and Ugandans whose agriculture is still native based and very high in nitriloside.

The discovery of oil in Nigeria has led to the rise of an upper class of Nigerians in Lagos who have bought into to western diet and this has now distorted the previous healthy dietary of the people of that class.

As demonstrated in the foregoing research, nature has assigned to the African body-type a specific diet for keeping it vital, healthy, and free from cancer. There is much yet to be learned about our bodies, and no one can claim nitrilosides are the whole answer. It is possible that an important role also may be played by other vitamins and enzymes. However, nitriloside rich foods and vitamins seems to be the most vital and direct acting of all these factors. It is an interlocking part of the total African biochemistry. The beta-cyanogenetic glucosides have been neglected as natural plant factors that appear to satisfy all or most of the criteria defined for vitamins.

Police in UK have launched an investigation after Muslim extremists issued a "fatwa" against Home Secretary Theresa May. The Met acted after wanted-style posters were put up in Tooting. The posters said the fatwa - sometimes taken to mean an Islamic death sentence - was "for the abduction, kidnapping and false imprisonment" of various Muslim clerics. An accompanying website has been set up as part of a campaign to highlight what organisers claim is unfair treatment of the Muslim community. It says they have been left with "no alternative" because their concerns are being ignored. Spokesman Abu Bakr said the contents of the fatwa - which he insisted was an "answer to a specific question" rather than a call to violence - would be revealed on Monday.But he said Mrs May should be "held to account" for what he claimed was an orchestrated campaign against Muslims by the police and the Government. Mr Bakr, 27, highlighted concerns over control orders and their watered-down replacement, terrorism protection and investigation measures. The Home Office said the fatwa was a matter for the Met.

Some 99% of South Sudanese voted to secede from the north, according to the first complete results of the region's independence referendum. A total of 99.57 percent of those polled voted for independence, according to the referendum commission. Early counting had put the outcome of the ballot beyond doubt, indicating Southern Sudan had secured a mandate to become the world's newest nation. The poll was agreed as part of a 2005 peace deal to end two decades of war. Final results from the 9-15 January vote, which Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has said he will accept, are expected early next month. If the result is confirmed, the new country is set to formally declare its independence on 9 July. Hundreds of officials and diplomats gathered in Juba at the grave of rebel leader John Garang for the first official announcement of the results.

The revered South Sudanese leader died in a plane crash just days after signing the January 2005 peace agreement ending more than 20 years of conflict between the black Christian-dominated south and the mainly Arab Muslim north. "The prayer I say the people of Southern Sudan have been waiting for for 55 years, the prayer of a country," Episcopalian Archbishop Daniel Deng said as he opened the ceremony. "Bless the name of this land, Southern Sudan," he said. According to the commission website, 3,851,994 votes were cast during the week-long ballot. Five of the 10 states in Sudan's oil-producing south showed a 99.9% vote for separation, the lowest vote was 95.5% in favour in the western state of Bahr al-Ghazal, bordering north Sudan, Reuters reports. North and south Sudan have suffered decades of conflict driven by religious and ethnic divides. Southern Sudan is one of the least developed areas in the world and many of its people have have long complained of mistreatment at the hands of the Khartoum government. The BBC's James Copnall, in Khartoum, says independence for the South now seems inevitable. Our correspondent adds that though the South Sudanese are celebrating that their dream of having their own country is a massive step closer there are still issues to resolved - including underdevelopment and inter-ethnic conflict. Tough negotiations remain on how to divide up economic resources between north and south - which has the bulk of oil, he adds.

These are the places in the developed world with the lowest tax – but do their low taxes come at a price? Any comparison of taxes is complicated because not all countries have the same types of taxes, nor do they apply them in a consistent way. The comparison method used by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is to calculate an "aggregate tax burden" consisting of the ratio of total tax revenues to what the country produces — or gross domestic product. Based on data contained in the 2010 edition of its Revenue Statistics report, the two lowest-taxed countries are Mexico and Turkey. Included in the database are OECD member countries that represent many of the world's largest economies. Since 2000, the overall tax burden for those countries has hovered in the range of 35-36%. Here's a look at five countries at the low end of the tax burden scale and how their citizens are faring in the current economic environment.

In addition to being the lowest-taxed country in the OECD report at 21.1%, based on the latest available estimates, KPMG ranked Mexico as the best place to do business from an overall tax standpoint. The May 2010 KPMG report focused on 95 cities in 10 developed countries. Mexico's low cost of living has attracted more US expatriates and retirees than any other country — as well as immigrants from the rest of the developed word. While Mexico has a reputation of being dangerous in some areas, most of the country is relatively safe. It also offers low property taxes and quality medical care at costs far less than in the United States - and many of its doctors were trained in the United States. The medical system is a combination of public, private and employer-sponsored insurance programs. The level of care varies by provider, with the best services offered by the privately funded systems. Funding for public healthcare is rising, but still remains one of the lowest per capita expenditures among OECD countries at only 6.6% of GDP.

Turkey imposes income taxes on both individuals and companies. In addition to these direct taxes, it levies a VAT of 18% and other indirect taxes. It's the second-lowest taxed country behind Mexico with a tax to GDP ratio of 23.5% and is the world's 16th largest economy. Turkey has a centralised healthcare and social welfare system that is administered by the federal government. The Ministry of Health has sweeping responsibilities including preventive health services, supervision of private hospitals, regulation of drug production and pricing, training of medical personnel and construction and operation of state hospitals.

The Far East didn't escape the financial crisis, but South Korea weathered the storm better than most. The president of the country, Lee Myung-bak, is a former head of Hyundai. He instituted programs to rescue certain companies and banks, cut interest rates and implemented currency-swaps to shore-up the country's foreign currency reserves. Taxes weren't raised, thereby maintaining South Korea's position as one of the lowest-taxed countries at a 26.6% aggregate tax burden. Among all the OECD developed countries, it experienced the most rapid recovery with an estimated 2010 GDP growth rate of about 5.8%. Seoul hosted the G20 Leaders Summit in November 2010.

With the world's largest economy at over $14 trillion, the United States maintains a high standard of living with a relatively low overall tax rate, compared with other nations. With a total tax burden of approximately 26.9%, its workers enjoy the highest income per hour in a free market economic system. While it does not provide the level of comprehensive services as countries such as Denmark and Sweden, it has major social programs in place that focus on seniors including Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Pre-retirement safety nets include relatively generous welfare and unemployment benefits. Unlike many European countries, the United States has no value added tax or national sales tax. Federal government revenues are derived primarily from a progressive income tax that ranges from 10% to 35%.

Things have changed in Ireland since the OECD ranked it fifth on the lowest aggregate tax list at 28.3%. Faced with growing deficits and shrinking revenues, the country recently appealed to the European Union and International Monetary Fund for a bailout to rescue its failing banking system. As a condition of receiving such financial aid, the government said that it would cut spending by 20% and raise taxes over the next four years. The goal is to reduce the annual deficit to 3% of GDP by the end of 2014. The plan to accomplish this includes cutting its generous welfare programs by €2.8 billion and reducing the salaries for new government employees by 10%. The minimum wage will also be cut by €1 per hour to a revised rate of €7.65 per hour and tax breaks on pensions will be reduced. The increased taxes on income are expected to generate additional revenue of €1.9 billion over four years. A new site tax will be levied on property and the sales tax will be raised from 21% to 23% in 2014.

While these countries have enjoyed lower taxes, the United States and Ireland have accumulated debt loads that are putting increasing pressure on their ability to maintain the same level of government services. Ireland is already taking significant steps to reduce spending and get its fiscal house in order, the United States has not yet taken the steps needed to reduce its growing debt and get federal spending under control. The situation in the United States may only get worse before it gets better. This year will be the first one where the "baby boomer" generation becomes eligible for full retirement benefits from Social Security and Medicare. Without substantial changes, those programs will not be able to support the same standard of living to which Americans have become accustomed. So the top five low tax countries may look very different in the years to come.

All foods, even battered Mars bars, have some nutritional value. But there are 10 that are so beneficial to your health they are known as 'super foods'. Check them out here:

Over 7,500 varieties of apple are grown throughout the world. They are packed full of antioxidants, especially vitamin C for healthy skin and gums - one apple provides a quarter of your daily requirement of vitamin C. Apples also contain a form of soluble fibre called pectin that can help to lower blood cholesterol levels and keep the digestive system healthy. An apple is also a carbohydrate with a low glycaemic index (GI) type. Low GI foods are digested slowly; once they are finally broken down in the intestine they are gradually absorbed into the bloodstreams as glucose, causing a gradual rise in blood sugar levels. They may help with weight control, as well as improving diabetics' long-term control of blood sugar levels.

The humble baked bean is a nutritional powerhouse of protein, fibre, iron and calcium. It contains carbohydrate that, like that in apples, is of the low GI variety. The tomato sauce covering baked beans is also a good source of lycopene, another powerful antioxidant shown to help prevent heart disease and prostate cancer. The insoluble fibre in baked beans is not digested but moves into the large intestine, or colon, where bacteria act on it and produce short-chain fatty acids. These fatty acids are thought to nourish the colon lining and protect it from carcinogenic (cancer-causing) invaders.

Just two florets - raw or lightly cooked - count as a veggie portion. Not only does broccoli contain antioxidants including vitamin C but it's a particularly good source of folate (naturally occurring folic acid). Increasing your intake of folic acid is thought to be of major benefit in preventing heart disease. Broccoli also contains an antioxidant called lutein that can delay the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This affects 10 per cent of people over 60 and is a major cause of impaired vision and blindness. Finally, broccoli also contains a phytochemical called sulphoraphane that has specific anti-cancer properties.

Several large studies suggest that the monosaturated fat in olive oil is good for the heart. Olive oil lower bad cholesterol levels and increases the good levels. Olive oil is also rich in antioxidants - it's probably one of the key protective aspects of the so-called Mediterranean diet. Watch out for the calories - a little goes a long way. A tablespoon of oil contains 120 kilocalories, which is the same as a large slice of bread and butter.

Breads containing a lot of seeds and wholegrain have a low GI, which can protect against heart disease, reduce hunger pangs, and help with weight control. They are also packed with fibre, which keeps the gut working efficiently; and seeded breads contain essential fatty acids. Studies show that including four flices of soya and linseed bread a day can give a does of phytoestrogens, through to relieve "hot flushes" in menopausal women. The downside is that bread contains a lot of salt. However, the good news is that bread manufacturers have started to use less salt in their pre-packaged bread.

All fish is a source of good-quality protein, vitamins, and minerals, but oily fish such as salmon also contains omega 3 fats that reduce blood clotting and inflammation. Studies show that eating oily fish dramatically recues the risk of having a heart attack, even in older adults. Omega 3 fats also help to prevent depression, and protect against the onset of dementia. Yep, it's true, fish really is an all-round brain food.

The drink loved by all Britons has a range of useful properties. The caffeine content is helpful for stimulating alertness, mood and motivation. Tea counts towards the recommended eight cups of fluid daily, which is the minimum to avoid dehydration. Tea, whether black or green, is a rich source of the antioxidant called catechins. Studies suggest that catechins protect the artery walls against the damage that causes heart disease and prevents formation of sticky blood clots. Some population studies suggest as little as one cuppa a day seems to offer some protection.

Yogurt is an easily absorbed source of calcium. It's also a useful milk subsitute for people who can't digest large amounts of the milk sugar, lactose. Yogurt has long been credited with a range of therapeutic benefits, many of which involve the health of the large intestine and the relief of gastrointestinal upsets. The bacteria Lactobacillus GG, added to some yoghurt, are not digested, and reach the large intestine intact where they top up the other friendly bacteria living there. The friendly bacteria fight harmful bacteria, including Clostridium difficile that can cause diarrhoea after a course of antibiotics.

It's a myth that bananas are fattening. Bananas are slightly higher in energy than other fruits but the calories come mainly from carbohydrate; excellent for refuelling before, during or after exercise. All types of fruit and vegetables contain plant chemicals or phytochemicals known as antioxidants. These antioxidants protect cells in the body against damage from free radicals that can cause heart disease and cancer. Bananas are also jam-packed with potassium that helps lower blood pressure, and vitamin B6 for healthy skin and hair.

All nuts are generally full of essential vitamins, minerals and fibre. Recent studies suggest that eating a small handful of nuts four times a week can help reduce heart disease and satisfy food cravings. Brazil nuts are one of the few good sources of selenium that may help protect against cancer, depression and Alzheimer's disease.

There’s more to you credit card than you might think and some of it your provider is very keen to keep quiet about. Here are six things they don’t want you to know. Credit card companies, like any business, have a primary function: making money. And that means they'll use every legal trick they can think of to get you signed up and paying them interest. It also means they're not keen on telling you a lot of things that will bring their profits down and save you money, so we've rounded up six facts that you should know and they probably won't tell you.

The average interest charged by credit card companies hit a 12-year high last year, despite the Bank of England base rate being at an all-time low. But did you know that if your lender writes to you to say the rate you pay is rising, you're legally entitled to simply say "no". You then have the option of either paying off the debt there and then, or if you've got a godo record of meeting payments on time, you might even be allowed to just keep your card and pay it off at the existing rate. The length of time you have to contact the lender has increased form 30 days to 60, so if you've had your rates raised recently, get in touch with them.

If you are currently carrying a balance and have a good payment history you may be able to avoid additional fees. These include balance transfer fees, late charges or even annual fees. If you have a reasonably good relationship with your lender, you have a good argument for getting fees waived. They will not advertise this but in order to keep you from transferring your balance they may oblige.

You really can reduce your APR by just asking. The rate you are offered depends on a lot of factors, from your situation and credit history to the financial position of the lender. All of these can change. But if things change for the better, you can be sure they are not going to call you and tell you about it. But if you call them and ask, they might well be able to lower your rate. The better your payment history and credit score, the better your chances are of getting a lower APR. Make sure you have some low-rate credit card offers in hand when you call. It's worth a try.

It's not in the credit card companies' best interest for you to pay off your card in full at the end of the month because if you do, they receive far less money. This is part of the reason rewards cards work for them -they may offer cashback and Airmiles but if you don't pay off the balance you could be paying APRs as high as 22%. You may as well have bought your plane ticket for full price as it would have cost you less in the long run. Making the minimum payment is exactly what credit card companies want from you, this way you pay interest on your borrowing for the longest time possible.

Most credit card companies will charge you much higher rates for cash withdrawals rather than purchases — with interest rates on cash often around 30%. On top of this, you will almost certainly be charged interest from the second you take the money out, sacrificing the normal period of grace until interest is levied. And on top of this, there may well be a cash withdrawal fee of around 2.5% (with a £2.50 minimum). Withdrawing cash on credit cards has become outrageously expensive and many borrowers may be unaware of the true cost of these withdrawals.

Each year credit card companies spend millions studying your habits and analysing your spending in order to separate you from your hard earned cash. They believe that you will spend more on a credit card than when you pay cash because you don't feel the loss as quickly. You may think that you are being wise by signing up to rewards schemes but in reality, you may be adding an unnecessary risk to your life. Before you sign up for a rewards card, figure out what you will need to spend in order to get these incentives. It is also a good idea to check if the rewards you will receive are offered throughout the year.

London, Saturday 29th January, 2011, (Reuters) - Thousands of protesters took to the streets on Saturday in a new wave of protests against government plans to hike university tuition fees and scrap education grants. The protests in London and Manchester are the first major demonstrations since late last year when students laid siege to London's government district and attacked a limousine carrying heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles and his wife. Saturday's protests were largely peaceful. Holding banners marked "What Parliament does, the streets can undo" about 3,000 noisy but good-humoured protesters marched through central London to Westminster. Ciara Squires, 18, from Portsmouth, at Queen Mary (London University) said she was marching for her 16-year-old sister: "Education should be free. My little sister is going to lose her EMA (grant) and drop out of college, and then she might not be able to go to university," Squires said. "Parliament is not listening to us and most of the people in college can't vote, so we should be out here (marching), that's the only way we can express our opinions," she added. Chanting "London - Cairo, unite and fight" the march then moved on to the Egyptian embassy, where a demonstration calling for Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak to step down was being held. In Manchester, some of the biggest trade unions joined forces with students as anger about the Conservative-led coalition government's austerity cuts boiled over into wider sectors of society. Media reports said six people had been arrested following a minor scuffle. Sally Hunt, general secretary of the University and College Union (UCU), told protestors that the Conservative-led coalition's cuts unfairly targeted young people. "From sacking lollipop ladies and closing youth clubs, to axing college grants and trebling tuition fees, this is a government at war with our young people and therefore at war with our future," Hunt said. The coalition government plans to cut 2.9 billion pounds ($4.64 billion) of state support a year for universities to help tackle a budget deficit now at about 11 percent of national output following the global financial crisis. The government says the higher student fees will be fairer than the present system, and that it will give poorer students more financial support.

Some time towards the end of last years, the country watched in disbelief as scores of women stampeded at Kenyatta International Conference Centre to listen to a Nigerian pastor who had promised to help them get husbands. They came in droves, from all walks of life to learn how the elusive Mr Right can be found. The sight of beautiful, well-appointed and seemingly well-to-do women in the mad rush pointed to a national crisis that begged the question: Why? In truth, however, the reason for so many seemingly beautiful women not having men in their lives is a no brainer. It is because relationships are not working because these women have become unlovable. Here are the reasons: - MORE

Human Planet is an awe-inspiring, jaw-dropping, heart-stopping landmark series that marvels at mankind's incredible relationship with nature in the world today. Uniquely in the animal kingdom, humans have managed to adapt and thrive in every environment on Earth. Each episode takes you to the extremes of our planet: the arctic, mountains, oceans, jungles, grasslands, deserts, rivers and even the urban jungle. Here you will meet people who survive by building complex, exciting and often mutually beneficial relationships with their animal neighbours and the hostile elements of the natural world. Human Planet crews have filmed in around 80 locations, bringing you many stories that have never been told on television before. The team has trekked with HD cameras and state of the art gear to film from the air, from the ground and underwater. The result: a “cinematic experience” created by world-class natural history and documentary camera crews and programme makers. - VIDEO

The political row over top judicial appointments snowballed into a crisis as Prime Minister Raila Odinga rejected the ‘unilateral’ nominations by President Kibaki and warned of a "major constitutional crisis". Raila said he was "shocked and dismayed" at the "unilateral" appointment of the Chief Justice, the Attorney General, Director of Public Prosecutions and the Controller of Budget. And without mentioning names he made a damning allegation: "The appointments have been made to serve the interests of a few people, including elements within upper echelons of Government who have serious credibility and integrity issues and constitute the networks of impunity."- MORE

David Cameron and George Osborne have insisted they will stick to their spending cuts programme despite deepening economic gloom and renewed threats of co-ordinated strike action. The Prime Minister used a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to stress that there are "no short-cuts" to a stronger economy. In a separate speech at the Swiss ski resort, the Chancellor dismissed the "siren voices" urging the Government to pull back from the cuts. Union officials met in London to discuss the prospect of industrial action over the pay freeze and job cuts in the public sector. After growth figures earlier this week showed the economy shrank by 0.5% in the final quarter of 2010, research published on Friday showed a dramatic fall in consumer confidence. Mr Cameron said: "It's going to be tough - but we must see it through. The scale of the task is immense, so we need to be bold in order to build this economy of the future." "The British people know these things. They understand there are no short-cuts to a better future. Those who argue that dealing with our deficit and promoting growth are somehow alternatives are wrong. You cannot put off the first in order to promote the second." Labour has accused the Conservative-Liberal Democrat Government of sacrificing growth with overly aggressive spending cuts. Mr Osborne said that heeding Labour's calls would lead to "disaster", telling a business leaders' lunch: "It's clear that for some that temptation remains - a bit more government spending here, pumping the bubble back up a bit there. "We are absolutely clear - allowing ourselves to be seduced by those siren voices would only lead to even greater disaster down the line. Right now the right long-term choices for the economy are the difficult choices. Adjustment will not be without struggle."

It is with humble acceptance of God's will that we announce the promotion to Glory of Mr. Hunter Eliud Mwaura who passed away on January 19th 2011 in the comfort of his home, surrounded by his loving family after a long illness, bravely borne. The late Mr. Hunter was son of the Late Eliud Mwaura and the Late Ethel Mwaura. A dear husband to Mrs. Sarah W. Mwaura, Loving father to Caroline Githua, Victor Githua, (Owen & Anne Thuo), Beatrice Githua and (Dennis & Jota Makumi). A wonderful grandfather to Jackie Kinuthia, Jessica Kinuthia, Hunter Kinuthia, Lauren Thuo, Hunter Thuo, Diamond Makumi, D.J. Githua Makumi and Demi Makumi and a great grandfather to Jamari Kinuthia, all Of Atlanta, GA (USA). A dear brother to Eunice Kamau, Emily Ndeani, Late Owen Githua, Late Job Kubai, Late Jimmy Makumi and Late Mary Muthoni and a loving Uncle to many. He will be laid to rest on Saturday January 29th in Atlanta , GA.

FRIENDS AND WELL WISHERS WILL BE MEETING DAILY FROM 6.00PM AT THE HUNTER’S RESIDENCE, 4517HICKORY GROVE DRIVE, ACWORTH GA 30102 , WITH MAIN PRAYER MEETINGS ON WEDNESDAY 01/26/11 AND THURSDAY 01/27/11 FROM 6PM-9PM

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS.
The Late Mr. Hunter Mwaura will be laid to rest at Kennesaw memorial cemetery Park in Marietta , GA on Saturday January 29^th 2011.

10:30AM – 12:00PM WAKE AND FUNERAL SERVICE AT WEST COBB FUNERAL HOME FOLLOWED BY THE BURIAL AT KENNESAW MEMORIAL AT 1:00PM, ON SAT, JAN 29^TH 2011, WEST COBB FUNERAL HOME: 2480 Macland Road, Marietta, Georgia 30064, 770 419-9234

KENNESAW MEMORIAL PARK: 1306 Whitlock Ave, Marietta , GA 30064, 770-428-0502

Thank you for your continued support; financial contributions may be done using the following: BANK OF AMERICA, BEATRICE GITHUA, BANK ROUTING #: 061000052, ACCOUNT #: 334031597297

Contacts for more information: Kanyari Muthoga 404-353-6317, Aileen Kaimenyi 678-613-8779

Njeri Hunter 404 944 6971, KACC church office 770-427-0555

THE LORD FREELY GIVES AND THE LORD FREELY TAKES. MAY THE GOOD LORD REST HIS SOUL IN ETERNAL PEACE. AMEN!

The Fly540 aircraft crash-landed in a maize and cassava plantation after it failed to take off at Wilson Airport in Nairobi on January 27, 2011. The plane had four occupants, who were taken to Nairobi Hospital for treatment after they sustained minor injuries. A Fly540 aircraft crash- landed in a maize and cassava plantation after it failed to take off from Wilson Airport. Witnesses said the plane, 5X-FFD, ran beyond the runway, shot through the airport fence and nosedived into the field on Thursday. “It started well, but when it neared the end of the runway, I heard it reduce its engine roar. It then got into the field,” Mr Albanus Kioko said. An official from the airline, who sought anonymity, said that the plane developed mechanical problems on take-off during a flight test. He said the four people on board were unhurt but had been taken to hospital for check-up. When the Daily Nation team arrived at the scene, officials from the Accident Investigation Department (Ministry of Transport) were on site checking the status of the aircraft. Airport police boss James Mugera said investigations were under way. The plane must have continued with the ground run because its front wheels had collapsed. Its nose got opened probably due to impact when it hit the ground. - Daily Nation.

A Turkish man has turned to police in a desperate plea for shelter from his sex-obsessed wife of 18 years. The man is seeking help after being unable to meet his wife’s insatiable appetite and constant demands for sex, authorities said on Wednesday. He arrived at his local police station in south-western Germany complaining that he had been sleeping on the sofa for the past four years in order to escape the clutches of his sex-crazed wife. The couple have been together for 18 years and have two children. In a statement police said: ‘Now he has decided to get a divorce and to move out... in the hope of finally getting some rest, particularly as he is anxious to arrive at work well rested. ‘At the moment this is impossible because he says his wife keeps coming into the living room demanding that he perform his marital duties. 'He asked for police help in getting some sleep at night.’

President Kibaki has nominated Justice Alnashir Visram to the position of Chief Justice amid a standoff with Prime Minister Raila Odinga. President Kibaki also nominated Prof Githu Muigai as Attorney General and Kioko Kilukumi Director of Public Prosecutions. A dispatch from PPS stated that the President after consultation with the Prime Minister Raila Odinga also appointed William Kirwa as Controller of Budget. President Kibaki made the key appointments in the judiciary, barely one hour after Kenya set in motion the process of deferral of cases filed against six of its citizens at the International Criminal Court (ICC). The timing of the appointment of the new Chief Justice (CJ), the Attorney General (AG) and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is calculated to convince the international community about Kenya’s commitment to judicial reforms. It has been argued that the ICC should handle the cases because the country lacks a credible judicial capable of dispensing justice. Just before the release of the names from State House by Presidential Press Service, Lands Minister James Orengo, a close ally of the Prime Minister called journalists to his office to protest that Raila was not consulted in the nominations. Orengo urged the President to embrace consultations and claimed that the Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura had confirmed the nomination of Justice Visram as the Chief Justice, with Githu Muigai as the Attorney General and Kioko Kilukumi as the Director of Public Prosecution. "I have been forced to call this press conference at this hour in regard to the impending appointments to various institutions of the Government," said Orengo at 8.30 PM on Friday. He said ODM was equally taken by surprise with the appointment of Major General Michael Gichangi as the Director General of the National Security Intelligence Service last week. He said: "The Head of Public Service Francis Muthaura called PM’s Permanent Secretary Dr Mohammed Isahakia this afternoon to tell him about the appointments saying they were supposed to be announced anytime, but we are not going to accept them because there was no consultations and the PM who is in Ethiopia attending AU Summit meeting is not aware." - The Standard.

Kibera senior principal magistrate Grace Nzioka has sentenced the wife of UK-based televangelist Gilbert Deya, Mary Gilbert Deya to three years in prison for stealing a baby at the Kenyatta National Hospital and providing false information. In 2007, Mary Deya who was popularly known for giving birth to Miracle babies served two years after she was found guilty of stealing a baby. In her judgment, Grace Nzioka said that she was satisfied that there was sufficient evidence to sentence Mary Deya to three years jail for stealing a baby and additional two years each of the two counts of giving false information that she had given birth. Mary Deya will serve another two years on each of the two counts for giving false information, however all the sentences will run concurrently, translating to two three years in prison. The court heard that Mrs. Deya stole the baby boy from Kenyatta National Hospital on September 10th 2005. Doctors who testified during the trial told the court that the pregnancy tests done on her indicated negative and that she had no active eggs questioning the delivery. Prosecutor Francis Ndiema told the court that the accused was not a first offender arguing that she was convicted to two years in jail in which she was jailed for two years for similar offence. The sentence comes barely a week after a nephew of Deya, Paul Deya, was found guilty of murdering his three year old son by a London court. Gilbert Deya is fighting extradition to Kenya over child abduction claims after infertile women were presented with "miracle babies".

UK consumer confidence in 'astonishing' fall

The confidence of UK consumers in the economy and their finances has suffered its biggest monthly drop in almost 20 years, a survey has suggested. Rising VAT was a key factor behind the "astonishing" confidence fall, the GfK NOP Social Research report said. The UK faced a "very painful period", it added. More government austerity measures and the surprise contraction in the economy meant talk of a double dip recession was "unavoidable", the study said. According to the GfK NOP Social Research report the eight-point fall in a key measure of consumer confidence between December and January, to minus 29, was the biggest monthly drop since the 1992 recession. Meanwhile, the index representing people's expectations of their financial situation over the next year slid to minus 12, down from plus 4 a year ago. And the score for expectations for the economy over the next year was minus 30, compared with minus two a year ago. Earlier this week official figures showed that UK GDP shrank by 0.5% in the final three months of 2010 - as the freezing December weather caused major disruption across the economy. And last week, the Office for National Statistics said that the rate of CPI inflation had risen by more than expected to 3.8%. Meanwhile at the beginning of this month - the standard rate of VAT increased from 17.5% to 20%. "The VAT increase is the first of the government's austerity measures that has had a widespread impact on consumers, and it seems to have hit people's economic confidence hard, especially as the biggest drop was in consumers' appetite for major purchases," said GfK's managing director Nick Moon. "With inflation on the up and the full force of the cuts yet to hit, these figures could be the beginning of a very painful period. "There is a chance that these figures represent a post-Christmas blip but even if there is a rally in February it is extremely unlikely that it will reverse this massive drop."

On Friday, analysts said that the rise in VAT appeared to be a key factor in declining weekly sales at department store John Lewis, which fell 2.2% on the same week a year earlier. "The slowdown in John Lewis sales is particularly notable as the company has been clearly out-performing the retail sector as a whole," said IHS Global Insight economist Howard Archer. "The John Lewis figures suggest that consumers are becoming increasingly less prepared, or less able, to spend as higher inflation and muted earnings growth squeezes their purchasing power." However, John Lewis said it was difficult to make comparisons with last year, as snowfall in January 2010 had created fluctuations in trade.

Human Planet tells remarkable stories of extraordinary people who make their homes in the Arctic, the harshest environment on Earth. - VIDEO

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A Ugandan lesbian could be deported to a country where politicians want homosexuals executed and papers call for their hanging on the front page. Fears were growing last night over the safety of Brenda Namigadde who is set to be deported to Uganda, where a leading gay rights activist has been found murdered. Namigadde was ordered to leave Britain after a judge ruled she was not homosexual. Campaigners say she could be jailed for 14 years if she returns to the African country, where homosexuality is illegal and there is political pressure to make it punishable by death. There is also a growing campaign of persecution, including newspaper calls for homosexuals to be hanged. Yesterday, activist David Kato was found beaten to death, prompting further calls for the deportation to be halted. Campaigner Peter Tatchell called on home secretary Theresa May to intervene, telling Metro: ‘It’s outrageous that the government should be contemplating deporting Brenda to a country where homosexuality is punishable by imprisonment and where MPs are proposing to execute lesbian and gay people.’ Ms Namigadde, detained at Yarl’s Wood immigration centre, fled Uganda in 2003 after her house was destroyed over her relationship with her Canadian partner. She has said she will be tortured or killed if she is forced to return and will be arrested the moment she arrives at Entebbe airport. The 29-year-old was due to be deported today but the Home Office is reviewing final submissions. A Twitter campaign has been launched to prevent her removal. The Home Office said her case had been reviewed twice and a judge found.

Seven things you should never do on Facebook

Millions of people are connected online with Facebook, but are you sharing too much? Here are seven things you shouldn't do on the site, regardless of how keen you are on socialising online.

1) Never settle for the default settings

The people behind Facebook are keen for you to share your details with the world. The more you share, the more people you connect to, the more people want to sign up. However, sharing everything with all and sundry isn't a good idea. To check and opt out of the recommended settings, open your Facebook page, click on 'Account' in the top right of the screen and then 'Privacy settings'.

The 'Recommended settings' mean that your status, photo, posts, bio, favourite quotation, family and relationship details are shared with everyone. Photos and videos you're tagged in, religious and political views and birthdays are shared with Friends of friends. Permission to comment on your posts, places you check in to, and contact information are shared with Friends only. Change all to Friends only, and you're safe from the prying world.

Telling your Facebook mates what's going on in your life is one thing, but letting any old Tom, Dick or Harriet see your Facebook page via a web search is another.We would recommend opting to never have your Facebook details shared with other search engines.

To make sure you aren't go to your Facebook page, 'Account', 'Privacy Settings', 'Apps and websites', then 'Public Search'. De-tick the 'Enable Public Search' button.

Unless you want app developers knowing where you live and how to contact you we wouldn't recommend putting any real details in to Facebook for the time being. That means no home address and no phone number.

One for the advanced Facebook user: Never let an app continue to suck your information once you've done with it.Remember the days when you played Zombies or maybe Vampires? Well those apps are most likely still active on your account and sucking in your personal data. Scary, huh? Nip over to your Facebook page, go to 'Account', 'Privacy Setting' and then 'Apps, games and websites', and remove the ones you don't want.

You've had one too many drinks and been tagged for all your friends, colleagues and family to see you not looking too hot. Not good. To avoid this, go to your Facebook page, 'Account', 'Privacy Settings', and make sure Photos and videos you're tagged in is set to Friends only.

Taking this to the next level, you can also block individual people on top of those groups of people. Go to 'Customise settings', 'Photos and videos I'm tagged in' and chose to edit settings. Here from the drop-down menu chose 'customise' again and then start listing the people you want to hide your photos from.

What's one of the first security questions you are ever asked when you deal with your bank? What's your date of birth? And yet here you are giving it away on your Facebook page for all to see. You should never let people see the year you were born.

Go to your Facebook page, 'Profile', then 'Edit profile'. In the first pane ('Basic information') chose as to whether you want to 'Show my full date of birth in my Profile', 'Show only day and month in my Profile' or 'Don't show my birthday in my profile'. If you still want birthday wishes go for the second option.

Always be careful about what you say on your status updates and never give out any personal information that you don't want getting into the wrong hands.

Burglars prey on stuff like the fact that you've gone on holiday and left the keys under the flowerpot near the front door and the combination to the safe is...

Gladys Bulinya at home with five of her six sets of twins Most women would struggle to cope with six sets of twins but for Gladys Bulinya it is even more difficult - as many people in her part of Kenya think twins are cursed. Her relatives will have nothing to do with her, and her husband left her, fearing she was jinxed, after the sixth pair of twins arrived last year. So the 35-year-old lives alone with 10 of her 12 children in a one-roomed grass-thatched house, a few miles from the shore of Lake Victoria. Sitting outside her small home in the village of Nzoia, she recites the birthdays of her children with ease. "John and James were born in 1993," she starts, shading her eyes from the sun's rays. She explains that she got pregnant at high school - but her boyfriend was too young to marry her. Her sorrow then turned to shock, when her own family ordered her to leave the babies at the district hospital for adoption. They told her that the Bukusu people, to which her family belongs, believe twins bring bad luck - and that unless one of them dies, it means certain death for one or both parents. The Bukusu tradition of eliminating the second twin is no longer practised, though occasional cases of infanticide are still reported in rural areas of western Kenya.

Luckily, Ms Bulinya says, when her boyfriend's father learned the twins had been abandoned, he took them in and has cared for them ever since. (He is from a different ethnic group, the Kalenjin.) But her troubles did not stop there. Five years later she fell in love with and married a primary school teacher. She was living with his family when she gave birth to her second set of twins, Duncan and Dennis. Fearing she had brought them a bad omen - and that someone would die - her in-laws chased her away. "I was put on a motorcycle taxi with my twins and sent to my father's home," she says. Yet again, however, her family had no sympathy. Still considering her cursed, they did not allow her on to their property.

The Bukusu

Instead, they quickly organised another marriage for her, to a man 20 years her senior.

He agreed to the alliance, she says, as he had not expected to marry at his age. But more twins followed. "Mercy and Faith were born in 2003 and Carren and Ivy in 2005, Purpose and Swin in 2007," Ms Bulinya says. It was the arrival of Baraka and Prince last year, that led to her husband walking out. "I now have to do lots of odd jobs to feed my 10 children because I do not know where he is, and he is also too old to work even if he were around," she says. The five-year-old girls take it in turns to care for five-month-old Baraka and Prince, while their mother is out weeding plots or doing washing for neighbours. Eleven-year-old Dennis has been given a scholarship to a private boarding school nearby, while his twin Duncan looks after the livestock for a retired teacher. "I have decided to sponsor one of them - that is all I can afford," Margaret Khanyunya, director of St Iddah Academy, told the BBC. Duncan's monthly ration of maize for his herding duties is enough to feed the rest of the family. So the family of twins, often ostracised by the community, just about scrapes a living. But even Ms Khanyunya, a benefactor, is critical of Ms Bulinya's situation.

Medical Viewpoint

Dr Maggie Blott, a spokesperson for the Royal College of Obsetricians and Gynaecologists, says: The chances of having six sets of twins is extremely low, though once you have one set of twins, you are more likely to have another - and once you have two sets, you are more likely to have a third. If a woman repeatedly has non-identical twins, her ovaries are regularly producing two eggs rather than one. In Britain, the chance of having twins is one in 80, in Africa it is higher. I'm not sure anyone knows the chances of having a second or third set of twins - there probably isn't that much information out there. But all obstetricians have stories of a woman who has had twins having twins again. I have a patient who had twins followed by triplets. Twinning runs in families too. A woman who is a twin herself has a higher chance of giving birth to twins. "The lady should have undergone sterilisation after discovering that men were using and dumping her," she says.

Ms Bulinya says she has no regrets and sees all her children as God's blessings. However, she admits that she has now reluctantly been sterilised, "against the wishes of my church", as she could not cope with any more children. "I am a Catholic. When I made the decision I asked for God's forgiveness and I am sure God understands and will forgive me for doing that." The one thing that really upsets her, she says, is the absence of her 17-year-old twins. She weeps when she recalls their last meeting, two years ago, at their circumcision, a ceremony which marks a teenage boy's rite of passage to a man. At the gathering, each parent must hand over their son to the community elders for the circumcision. "I was invited to the occasion and asked twice to pick my sons from among the crowd of 30 boys," she explains. "In both cases I picked the wrong children and my heart still bleeds each time I think of that day."

Gladys Bulinya's non-identical twins

Wananchi mill around one of the two taxis whose owners, James Awiti and James Richard Owiti, were shot dead in Riat area, Kisumu, on January 25, 2011 night by three gunmen who pounced on them as they drove to their homes. Insecurity in the area is rife with the villagers citing several deaths related to thuggery.

Two taxi operators were killed and a third one robbed of his car by gangsters in Riat and Otonglo areas on the Kisumu-Busia road. Mr James Awiti met his death a few metres from his home near the Riat market moments after he left his taxi operating base in Kisumu Town.

According to his wife Lilian Awiti, they heard gunshots from two directions on Monday night and wondered what was happening.

A neighbour later came running and informed her that her husband had been shot. “I rushed to the scene and found him already dead, with gunshot wounds on his head, neck, chest and stomach,” said Mrs Awiti. About a hundred metres from where Mr Awiti was shot, the gangsters pounced on another taxi operator, dragged him out of his car and shot him before making away with his money, mobile phone and documents. Mr Richard Omondi operated at Kisumu Airport and had talked to his wife 30 minutes before he was killed at 9.30pm on the same day, five hundred metres from his house. Mr Omondi’s wife Gladys Adhiambo said her husband informed him that he was on his way home after doing some shopping in town. Little did she know this would be the last conversation between them. In the third incident, Mr Sam Odondi was robbed of his car in his compound at Otonglo market, two kilometres from where the other taxi operators were killed.

A section of the civil society protest at Freedom Corner in Uhuru Park, Nairobi on January 18, 2011 against Kenya's proposal to withdraw from the Rome Statute and as member of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The President of the assembly of Rome statute states will be visiting Kenya from Thursday this week.

The President of the assembly of Rome statute states will be visiting Kenya from Thursday this week. Ambassador Christian Wenaweser, who heads the International Criminal Court (ICC) political arm, is expected to hold discussions with government officials and members of Parliament. During the two-day visit, the ICC president is also expected to meet members of the civil society members and the media on issues regarding the international court. Kenya is a state party of the Rome statute and has ratified the law that created the ICC, and it is obliged to cooperate with the court in the investigation and prosecution of crimes, including the arrest and surrender of suspects. Kenyan legislators last year, however, almost unanimously voted to pull out of the ICC process, and vowed to introduce a bill in Parliament to repeal the law. Currently, the Hague-based court is handling cases against six Kenyan individuals who are the main suspects of Kenya’s post-election violence of 2007-2008, which left over 1000 people killed and 350,000 others displaced. The six were named by the court’s Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo in December, as he requested the court’s Pre-Trial judges to “issue summonses to appear against six Kenyan citizens to face justice for massive crimes committed during the post-election violence in Kenya.” The judges are expected to make a ruling later in the year, even as the country’s top officials lobby for a deferral of the case so that the trials can be conducted locally.

Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has already been to several African countries to lobby for their support, securing the support of the African Union Commission and Ethiopia. Last week, AU Commission chair Jean Ping endorsed Kenya’s request, saying it is within the realm of the rights of all ICC member states.

Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) Governor, Professor Njuguna Ndung'u, is encouraging the registration of more mobile money transfer service providers in a bid to deepen Kenya's financial inclusion. Speaking during the launch here Monday of Tangazo Money Transfer, a mobile money transfer solution that will cut across all mobile telephone networks as well as catering for those who cannot afford mobile phone handsets, he said mobile banking had closed the gap between the large population of unbanked Kenyans and the few banked by commercial banks. According to the latest statistics from the CBK, since the launch of mobile banking in the Kenyan market four years ago, 1.5 million Kenyans have enrolled, transacting some 2.45 billion shillings (about US$30.3 million) daily and estimated 76billion shillings monthly.

A lost and exhausted motorist drove the wrong way down a dual carriageway after setting off 14 hours earlier – on a 110km (70-mile) journey to the seaside

Magistrates heard how 86-year-old John Marsden left his home in Bolton at 8.30am on July 10 with a book of maps. He intended to spend a fortnight in a caravan near Rhyl, north Wales – a 90-minute drive away. But at 11pm police received several calls about his Vauxhall Cavalier driving west on the A55, in the eastbound lane. He had covered 10km (six miles) at about 40mph in the outside lane narrowly avoiding oncoming cars. The wartime RAF driver appeared at Llandudno court proudly wearing his service medals and a blue beret.

Marsden was described as ‘very independent’ but now uses a mobility scooter. He said: ‘I was a member of the Institute of Advanced Motorists for 20 years. I’ve blotted my copybook. ‘I was lost and had gone backwards and forwards asking how to get to Rhyl, but no one seemed to agree. I didn’t get my holiday.’ He admitted dangerous driving and was banned for a year with a conditional discharge.

ACTS OF COMPASSION PROJECT

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Deadline for legacy cases is July 2011

On 19th July 2006 the then Home Secretary, John Reid made a statement to Parliament in relation to the programme to deal with resolving older applications made on/or before 5th March 2007 under the legacy casework resolution within 5 years. The programme to deal with the cases and resolve them commenced shortly there after. 5 years have almost lapsed and the programme is due to be completed in 6 months time: - July 2011. A substantial number of cases have already been resolved but others are yet to be resolved. If you made your application before 5th March 2007 and your matter has never been resolved seek legal advice before the programme is concluded.

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Love doll Bianca shares a drink with David, left, and on the right, Bianca helps David in map-reading.

The father-of-two has taken ‘Bianca’ on road trips across the US and to Britain, including visits to Oxford and Stonehenge. But the 57-year-old insisted his wife Wendy – a retired doctor – doesn’t mind. ‘She knows I’m not going to run off with a piece of silicone shaped like a woman,’ he said. Weighing 40kg (90lb), Bianca has to be moved in a wheelchair. She is one of 14 dolls on whom Mr Hockey has spent £16,000 on travel and outfits, including £1,270 of lingerie.Mr Hockey has even taken Bianca skydiving. ‘The instructor who jumped in tandem with her said it made a pleasant change to not have someone screaming in his ear,’ he said. The filmmaker, from Nova Scotia, Canada, is working on a documentary about doll owners but claimed his collection is just a hobby. He said: ‘Some people in the doll community – iDollators – prefer dolls over a normal human relationship. But for me they’re just dolls, not people.’

Family Rebuild and Revival House (I.W.R.M) invites all couples to a COUPLE'S SEMINAR on the first Saturday of February 5th/ 02/2011 at exactly 1.00pm – 3.00pm. Venue is Revival House (IWRM Church), 500 High Street north, Manor Park; London E12 6QN. Bishop Dr. J B Masinde of Deliverance Church, Umoja will be the guest speaker.

Couples are highly recommended to attend to tap from the soaring wisdom and wealth of knowledge that God has deposited in his servant.Marriage is engulfed with storms and torrents whose mission is to drown tarnish and discredit this Institution which has resemblance to the church. But like a ship is kept a float by an anchor even so marriage can be anchored through Godly skills and practices that are founded upon the infallible word of God.

This is your seminar and is meant for the enrichment of your marriage. Admission is free and the benefit is immeasurable. If at all you value your marriage please plan to attend. Do not allow any form of storm to drift your marriage away from the desired course of destiny. Mark your calendar and seek leave from work early to avoid disappointment. Please invite a friend. See you there.

Familyrebuild in conjuction with Revival House is delighted to host a program for young adults on Saturday 29th from 2.00pm. The venue is 500 high Street North, E12 6QN. It is time to guide our young people into responsible relationships. There has been an increase of many young people who are hurt through breakdown of "immature relationships" has a big knock on effect into their achievement and perception of marriage at large. Family rebuild will this year host a couple of guided and interactive seminars for this bracket of 16years old and above. We therefore welcome those who qualify for this meeting and urge their parents and friends to remind them. Pastor Peter Wangaruro for Family Initiatives Trust (familyrebuild) In support of stable marriage and family relationships Challenge plus God Equals Change. Visit our website www.familyrebuild.org

Pastor Peter Wangaruro for Family Initiatives Trust (familyrebuild) In support of stable marriage and family relationship

------------- Challenge plus God Equals Change. Visit our website www.familyrebuild.org -----------------

Lawyer Njenga Mwangi (left) representing Central MPs with programme director of Servers of Health and Environment Njoki Mitugo and lawyer Lawrence Kimondo (right) for Nacada outside the High Court after a ruling on January 24, 2011.

The Mututho laws limiting drinking hours and regulating consumption of alcohol are back in force. It follows court orders reversing previous ones which had temporarily stopped implementation of the law pending a case filed by Murang’a bar owners. They had sought orders declaring the law unconstitutional. A court on Monday upheld that here will be no drinking during the day. This follows a court decision giving the green light for implementation of the new alcohol law which prohibits the selling of alcohol before 5pm on weekdays and 2pm at weekends, and after 11pm all week. High Court judge Mr Justice Daniel Musinga in his ruling lifted an order halting the implementation of the Alcoholic Control Drinks Act. The temporary order stopping implementation of the law which was lifted yesterday was given by High Court judge John Mwera on January 14. Judge Musinga said the new law sought to ensure proper balance between leisure time and working hours. He held that the State was under obligation to come up with legislation if to ensure its citizens enjoyed the highest attainable health. The new law was necessary as it curbs excessive consumption of liquor which causes harm to health, he said.

The judge said the economic gain to the nation and bar operators will be high if alcohol intake is controlled. A group, Murang’a bar owners association, had gone to court seeking to have the new law declared unconstitutional and discriminatory. The group said the new law denied them the right to own property as guaranteed by the Constitution. The AG had opposed the case arguing that it lacked merit. He had urged the court not grant orders sought by the bar owners because those seeking the orders lacked legal authority. Justice Musinga ruled on Monday: “No evidence was produced before this court to show that the petitioners (bar owners) suffered any harassment,” Justice Musinga ruled.

The economic recovery in the UK suffered a shock blow today as figures revealed that gross domestic product (GDP) declined by 0.5% in the fourth quarter, raising fears of a double-dip recession. The severe weather last month was almost entirely to blame for the unexpected plunge between October and December, which ended a year of economic growth in the UK, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

The decline in GDP - the first since the third quarter of 2009 - was driven by a 0.5% drop in the key services sector, which makes up more than 75% of the total economy. With this drop, total growth in 2010 stands at 1.4%, far below analysts' forecasts. The figure, which is a preliminary estimate and subject to revision, will raise serious concerns over the strength of the economy as it enters the age of austerity and its ability to withstand the coalition Government's deficit-busting austerity measures. Economists were expecting growth of between 0.2% and 0.6% in the fourth quarter - but warned that the adverse weather made it difficult to provide accurate forecasts. The dramatic contraction in GDP will seriously damage prospects for the economy over the next year, as Chancellor George Osborne rolls out his £81 billion package of spending cuts - which include hundreds of thousands of public sector job losses. The Chancellor received some relief from data released by the ONS today revealing a lower-than-expected increase in Government borrowing in December - of £16.8 billion - which will ease pressure on the creaking public finances. But a fall in GDP output is likely to shake confidence in the ability of the private sector to pick up the expected slack in the economy and hold off a double-dip recession. But in the face of today's figures, the Chancellor remained defiant. He said: "These are obviously disappointing numbers, but the ONS has made it very clear that the fall in GDP was driven by the terrible weather in December. "We have had the coldest weather since records began in 1910 and this has clearly had a much bigger impact on the economy than anyone expected. "It's notable that sectors of the economy that are less affected by the poor weather, such as manufacturing, continue to perform strongly, helping to rebalance our economy. "There is no question of changing a fiscal plan that has established international credibility on the back of one very cold month. That would plunge Britain back into a financial crisis.

"We will not be blown off course by bad weather." A spokesman for the ONS said that, without the weather, GDP output in the fourth quarter was still likely to have been flat at 0%. He said: "It's likely the bad weather contributed to most or all of that fall but we would be saying GDP was flat without the weather." Alarm bells over the impact of Arctic conditions last month have been ringing throughout January, as retailers, housebuilders and transport firms revealed a slump in activity as the big freeze took hold. Last week, the ONS revealed that retail sales in the UK suffered the worst December on record as the high street battled with freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall. The construction blip - which boosted growth in the second and third quarter of 2010 - ended in the fourth quarter - with construction output plummeting 3.3%. There was some reprieve for manufacturing, as production output rose 0.9% in the quarter.

The weaker-than-expected growth figures reduce the chance of an interest rate hike, which was looking more likely as stubbornly-high inflation continues to soar. Last week, the ONS revealed the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rate of inflation rose to 3.7% in December, pushed higher by rising food and petrol bills. Bank of England Governor Mervyn King is expected to discuss his concerns over inflation in a speech in Newcastle this evening. Business Secretary Vince Cable was due to hold a press conference at his department's headquarters when the figures were released at 9.30am. The session was postponed at the last minute, with officials indicating it could take place this afternoon. Jonathan Loynes, chief European economist at Capital Economics, described the figures as "shockingly bad" and raised serious concerns over whether the economy is strong enough to withstand the coming fiscal tightening. He said: "The ONS estimates that weather effects knocked about 0.5% off GDP in the fourth quarter so, even without the impact, the underlying growth picture is significantly weaker than expected." Mr Loynes expects the economy to rebound in the current quarter, as it did after poor weather in the fourth quarter of 2009, but other adverse forces, not least the impact of the latest VAT hike, could limit the size of the bounce.

London has failed to make the top 50 “most live-able” cities, according to worldwide analysis by the Economist Intelligence Unit.

Canada’s Vancouver scooped the top spot having met an impressive 98% of the criteria set by the surveyors, including the quality of healthcare, culture, environment and infrastructure.

Vancouver, Canada, left, scooped the top spot out of the 50 ''most live-able'' cities, according to worldwide analysis by the Economist Intelligence Unit. Vienna in Austria, centre, scooped the second and Melbourne, Australia, right, was third.

Terrorist attack on Christians(left) and Armernians join demand for Eastern Christians'safety, (right).

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We offer quality machine cut stones, grade One stone for construction purposes. Their benefits include reduced building and labour costs as they save on cement and time.

We are based in Juja Kalimoni, a few kilometres from Juja Farm on the Juja Farm Road.

LOOKING FOR LONG TERM OR SHOT TERM LEASE. CONTACT FRED ON 0721784725, OR 0721385665.

The house construction now remains roofing and plastering and this will make a difference to Mrs. Lucy Wanjiru Maina (right) - a mother of six

It all started in a fellowship in London several years ago. A visiting preacher from Nakuru, Kenya was preaching in a Kenyan family house in London where they had lost their parent in Kenya. As the preacher was preaching she narrated the meaning of the word "poverty". "You people, you don't know what poverty is. When I talk about poverty you might not exactly understand but I can narrate what poverty is all about with an example of a widowed lady who was left by the husband with 6 children. The children do not go to school and the family is like nomads. They have been evicted from their rented houses for more than 9 times. They rent house, at the end of the month they cannot afford to pay the rent hence they are evicted. You are evicted until you don't know which estate you belong." the preacher explained. After the fellowship Pastor Jane Njiiri, the wife of Mr. Seed, enquired from the preacher about the woman and her where abouts. She contacted the lady and immediately she started to educate her children. It has been all along the desire of Pastor Njiiri and her family to build a home for this poor widow to make a difference in her life. Whenever Mr. Seed's family are in Kenya they always contact the lady who always join them in their family tour and she has become like a part of their family.

If you would like to help her in any way please contact her through Mrs. Lucy Wanjiru Maina on 0727307672 - FULL STORY

You can donate whatever you like AND the Seeds family will buy whatever will not be donated.

(10) KPLC Power connection from main (KShs. 42,000) we have done all the wiring)

Whatever someone is touched to donate is highly welcomed. The Bible says in Proverbs 19: 17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

Kesom Freight International Limited are pleased to announce the opening of their OWN office in Bristol.

This office can offer a full Freight forwarding service, including Imports, Exports by air & sea worldwide plus receiving & handling of cargo for our KENYAN consolidation service