Mushin Lagos gets a facelift

Some 5,000 Nigerian volunteers turned out Saturday armed with paint brushes to give a facelift to Mushin, a notorious slum in the centre of the country's commercial capital Lagos.

Led by Abimbola Fashola, the wife of Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, the volunteers administered paints to seven selected streets in the community, known for being overcrowded and chaotic and plagued with a high crime rate.

Fashola flagged off the ceremony on Saturday morning by painting the first house while more buildings and roadside curbs along the most noticeable and eye-catching parts of the community were painted by the volunteers.

"This is a commendable self-help project and I plead with the organisers to extend the same gestures to other local government areas in the state and the entire country," she said.

The volunteers in the one-day beautification exercise tagged "Mushin Makeover" came from all walks of life including entertainment, security agencies, students, traders, professionals and business and corporate leaders. Mushin residents were excited about the landmark beautification project.

"This is so cool, our old house is looking new with a fresh green paint," resident Rashidat Modupe told AFP after her house had been painted.

"I have lived in Mushin for more than 50 years and this has never happened before," another resident, a landlord, added.

The project was organised by Visible Impact to compliment the state government's ongoing megacity programme.

Nigeria's most populous city with between 15 and 17 million people has decided to overhaul its image.

Fashola said a trip he made to Singapore before becoming governor in 2007 gave him a model on which to base his transformed megacity.

He said focus has been put on revamping the transportation and road sector, improving waste management and water provision, property development and the environment.

Blogging Workshop In Qatar- Google provides solution to Arabic transliteration problem

Creating content in Arabic script requires either learning the Arabic keyboard layout or using onscreen keyboards, which are useful but limited by the speed at which one can click the mouse.

As a result, producing online content in Arabic script has mostly been limited to a small number of bloggers and commercial websites.

Google recently launched an exciting solution to the transliteration problem, from Roman into Arabic script.

Speaking to Media persons at the Supreme Council of Information & Communication Technology workshop on Saturday, head of Engineering Google Inc (MENA), Ahmad Hamzawi said, “Transliteration is a technique that is used to do phonetic mapping of words written in one script (e.g. Arabic) to another script (e.g. Roman).

While using Roman transliteration may be adequate for a lot of purposes (chatting), it leaves a lot to be desired from the perspective of people who prefer to read and write the language in its original script.

Jeramiah Owyang, a partner at Alimeter Group, opened the session with blogging strategy.

He said, “Humans beings are essentially social creatures.

We maintain our social networks through contacts, connections and affiliations.

A blog is a frequently updated, personal website featuring diary-type commentary and links to articles on other websites.

Blogs range from the personal to political, and can focus on one narrow subject or a whole range of subjects.” Blogging is not very popular in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region because of the lack of Arabic content, he said.

There are 4000 blogs in Arabic language.

Arabic is the eighth most-used language on the Internet.

Nineteen percent of bloggers in the region are critical to terrorism.

Sixty-four percent people blog on domestic issues and news around the region.

Owyang said its important to integrate your blog with other social networks tools like facebook, twitter, delicious, dig etc.

Shabina Khatrisi, an American freelance Journalist in Doha, talked about her experience in starting as a professional and personal blogger.

Rain pours in Doha

Even as intermittent rains continued to lash Doha and its surrounding areas for the third consecutive day on Sunday resulting in flooded streets and problems for commuters and pedestrians alike, the Department of Meteorology has predicted more thunder showers on Monday.

Head of the Analysis and Forecasting Section Abdulla Mohammed al Mannai said that the rain witnessed during the last 72 hours were equivalent to the total volume of rains witnessed in the entire month of December normally.

He, however, said that there was nothing unusual about it and added that the weather would start improving from Monday. “Colder days are ahead as there would be a significant drop in temperature on Monday because of the combination of cold air mass in the upper levels of the atmosphere associated with jet stream,” he added. The minimum temperature is expected to dip to 17 degree Celsius from 20 degree Celsius being witnessed normally these days. Meanwhile, residents had a tough time during the last three days because of intermittent rains, which caused heavy waterlogging at several places even in the heart of the town.

According to the Department of Meteorology, Doha alone recorded 24.6 mm rainfall during the last 24 hours. High pressure over Iraq and north-west of Saudi Arabia were reported to be the reasons behind the showers witnessed across the country. A resident of Fereej Bin Mohammad Street said that a car fell into a pit as it was inundated with water and had to be removed with the help of a crane.

Similarly, several vehicles in different parts of the city got stuck as their engine stopped while wading through the waterlogged areas. The collected water also led to traffic snarls in most of the areas inside Doha with vehicles remaining stranded and traffic moving painfully slow. The commuters had difficulty clearing their windscreens and mirrors to keep track of the vehicles.

It was also not easy for pedestrians, especially the workers, who had to brave the rains while waiting for buses and taxis at shelterless bust stops and footpaths. However for some, the wet weather came as a boon as they were desperately waiting for the rains that are hard to find in this region. Many were seen walking along the Corniche under umbrellas and enjoying the cool breeze. Covering themselves with woolen garments and caps, they enjoyed the rains mingle with the foaming Arabian Sea.

Doha Gymnasiede 2009

As many as 29 world records were smashed in the Doha Gymnasiade 2009 which concluded on Saturday.

The new records were created in the swimming and athletics competitions.

The athletes made a new world mark in swimming events like girls 100m, 200m and 400m freestyle, 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke, 50m and 200m butterfly, 200m and 400m medley and 4x100m freestyle.

The swimming events in which the boys created world records were 100m, 200m and 400m freestyle, 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke, 50m and 200m butterfly, 200m and 400m medley and 4x100m freestyle.

In the swimming event for girls 50metres freestyle, Santaman Anna of France created a new a world record to win gold.

A solitary record was broken in athletics, the event being high jump for girls.

Winners of the final 24 events, across all categories, including athletics, swimming and gymnastics, were declared on the fourth and final day of the competition.

Significant titles among the medal winners were the delegations from Italy, Russia, and Ukraine.

In the 2000m steeplechase boys final, Burhan Ahmed Mohammed of Saudi Arabia won gold followed by Italy’s Sanguinetti Andrea who won silver while Qatar’s Elbachir Siksasse clinched the bronze.

The 3000m boys final was won by Zhang Lei of China, while the 110m hurdles for Boys witnessed Mach Di Palmstein Ivan of Italy as the winner In the 100m hurdles for boys, Raibaut Mathilde of France won the gold medal, while the relay boys final was won by Spain followed by Brazil with silver and France with bronze.

In the relay for girls, Italy won the gold, Hungary silver and Russia bronze.

In the long jump for girls, French Beaufour Megane won gold while Zhou Xiaoxue of China won silver.

The pole vault gold for girls went to Russia’s Stetssyuk Tatiana.

The gymnastics events for which winners were declared on Saturday included finals for apparatus ball for girls, apparatus club for girls, and group show in rhythmic gymnastics category.

Finals were also held for vault for boys, balance beam for girls, parallel bars for boys, floor for girls and horizontal bar for boys.

VicTravelmedia

VicTravelmedia

VicTravelmedia

igerian Woman Face Horror from another in U.S

An Arlington couple has been indicted by a federal grand jury on accusations that they enticed a Nigerian woman to come to the United States and then forced her to serve them for little or no pay for nine years.

Emmanuel Nnaji, 50, and his wife, Ngozi, 45, have been charged with conspiracy, forced labor, document servitude, alien harboring and making false statements, according to a seven-count indictment returned late Wednesday.

According to a Justice Department news release, the couple promised the Nigerian woman, a widowed mother of six, a salary and support for her children, whom she was struggling to care for.

When the woman arrived, however, the couple isolated her and forced her to work long hours with no days off and little or no pay, the release said. They also monitored her contact with her family and refused her requests to return home or attend church, among other things, the release stated.

The indictment also alleges that Emmanuel Nnaji sexually assaulted the woman and made her fearful to call police.

Reached by phone Thursday, the man’s son, Emmanuel Nnaji Jr., 25, called the woman crazy and said the allegations against his father and stepmother are false.

"It is a bunch of bull," the younger Nnaji said. "The lady they brought over here was a crazy lady. I lived in their house for four of the nine years they are talking about.  . . . Anytime we brought her into public, she acted a complete fool."

Emmanuel Nnaji Jr. said his father and stepmother are nurses who devote their lives to helping people. He said they are both from Nigeria and, on one of their visits home, they agreed to bring the woman to the U.S. in exchange for her help taking care of their six children.

He said that he never saw his father or stepmother abuse or mistreat the woman and that they gave her whatever she asked for. He said he believes that one of his father’s associates persuaded her to make the complaint.

"She ends up talking to one of my dad’s associates and they put it in her head that my dad kidnapped her," the younger Nnaji said. "One day, she burst out of the house and leaves the kids and runs to the FBI and makes up some bogus" story.

Emmanuel Nnaji Jr. said he also never heard the woman talk about her children.

"I found out she had kids from the FBI," he said.

Emmanuel Nnaji Jr. said his father and stepmother have been under investigation for two or three years and were recently arrested but are free on bail. He said he doesn’t know the woman’s whereabouts.

"I’m just tired of it," he said. "My dad is a good man."

If convicted, Emmanuel Nnaji and Ngozi Nnaji face a maximum sentence of up to 55 years in prison. Ngozi Nnaji, a Nigerian national, also faces deportation if she is convicted of any of the felonies, according to the news release.

Source- Star Telegraph USA

VicTravelmedia

VicTravelmedia

VicTravelmedia

igerian Woman Face Horror from another in U.S

An Arlington couple has been indicted by a federal grand jury on accusations that they enticed a Nigerian woman to come to the United States and then forced her to serve them for little or no pay for nine years.

Emmanuel Nnaji, 50, and his wife, Ngozi, 45, have been charged with conspiracy, forced labor, document servitude, alien harboring and making false statements, according to a seven-count indictment returned late Wednesday.

According to a Justice Department news release, the couple promised the Nigerian woman, a widowed mother of six, a salary and support for her children, whom she was struggling to care for.

When the woman arrived, however, the couple isolated her and forced her to work long hours with no days off and little or no pay, the release said. They also monitored her contact with her family and refused her requests to return home or attend church, among other things, the release stated.

The indictment also alleges that Emmanuel Nnaji sexually assaulted the woman and made her fearful to call police.

Reached by phone Thursday, the man’s son, Emmanuel Nnaji Jr., 25, called the woman crazy and said the allegations against his father and stepmother are false.

"It is a bunch of bull," the younger Nnaji said. "The lady they brought over here was a crazy lady. I lived in their house for four of the nine years they are talking about.  . . . Anytime we brought her into public, she acted a complete fool."

Emmanuel Nnaji Jr. said his father and stepmother are nurses who devote their lives to helping people. He said they are both from Nigeria and, on one of their visits home, they agreed to bring the woman to the U.S. in exchange for her help taking care of their six children.

He said that he never saw his father or stepmother abuse or mistreat the woman and that they gave her whatever she asked for. He said he believes that one of his father’s associates persuaded her to make the complaint.

"She ends up talking to one of my dad’s associates and they put it in her head that my dad kidnapped her," the younger Nnaji said. "One day, she burst out of the house and leaves the kids and runs to the FBI and makes up some bogus" story.

Emmanuel Nnaji Jr. said he also never heard the woman talk about her children.

"I found out she had kids from the FBI," he said.

Emmanuel Nnaji Jr. said his father and stepmother have been under investigation for two or three years and were recently arrested but are free on bail. He said he doesn’t know the woman’s whereabouts.

"I’m just tired of it," he said. "My dad is a good man."

If convicted, Emmanuel Nnaji and Ngozi Nnaji face a maximum sentence of up to 55 years in prison. Ngozi Nnaji, a Nigerian national, also faces deportation if she is convicted of any of the felonies, according to the news release.

Source- Star Telegraph USA

Nigerian Woman Face Horror from another in U.S

An Arlington couple has been indicted by a federal grand jury on accusations that they enticed a Nigerian woman to come to the United States and then forced her to serve them for little or no pay for nine years.

Emmanuel Nnaji, 50, and his wife, Ngozi, 45, have been charged with conspiracy, forced labor, document servitude, alien harboring and making false statements, according to a seven-count indictment returned late Wednesday.

According to a Justice Department news release, the couple promised the Nigerian woman, a widowed mother of six, a salary and support for her children, whom she was struggling to care for.

When the woman arrived, however, the couple isolated her and forced her to work long hours with no days off and little or no pay, the release said. They also monitored her contact with her family and refused her requests to return home or attend church, among other things, the release stated.

The indictment also alleges that Emmanuel Nnaji sexually assaulted the woman and made her fearful to call police.

Reached by phone Thursday, the man’s son, Emmanuel Nnaji Jr., 25, called the woman crazy and said the allegations against his father and stepmother are false.

"It is a bunch of bull," the younger Nnaji said. "The lady they brought over here was a crazy lady. I lived in their house for four of the nine years they are talking about.  . . . Anytime we brought her into public, she acted a complete fool."

Emmanuel Nnaji Jr. said his father and stepmother are nurses who devote their lives to helping people. He said they are both from Nigeria and, on one of their visits home, they agreed to bring the woman to the U.S. in exchange for her help taking care of their six children.

He said that he never saw his father or stepmother abuse or mistreat the woman and that they gave her whatever she asked for. He said he believes that one of his father’s associates persuaded her to make the complaint.

"She ends up talking to one of my dad’s associates and they put it in her head that my dad kidnapped her," the younger Nnaji said. "One day, she burst out of the house and leaves the kids and runs to the FBI and makes up some bogus" story.

Emmanuel Nnaji Jr. said he also never heard the woman talk about her children.

"I found out she had kids from the FBI," he said.

Emmanuel Nnaji Jr. said his father and stepmother have been under investigation for two or three years and were recently arrested but are free on bail. He said he doesn’t know the woman’s whereabouts.

"I’m just tired of it," he said. "My dad is a good man."

If convicted, Emmanuel Nnaji and Ngozi Nnaji face a maximum sentence of up to 55 years in prison. Ngozi Nnaji, a Nigerian national, also faces deportation if she is convicted of any of the felonies, according to the news release.

Source- Star Telegraph USA