Omotola shares more family vacation photos

 

Omotola, her husband and four children are currently on holiday in Europe. They are in Italy at the mo! It's my job to stalk celebs for you na! Hehe

Femi Fani Kayode responds to Bianca Ojukwu's threat to sue him

Bianca Ojukwu's lawyers have written a letter to Femi Fani Kayode asking him to apologize and also retract the statement he made a few weeks ago claiming he dated her many years back or face a lawsuit. In the letter which was published in Thisday today, Bianca said she's never met FFK before! Femi has responded to the threat. Read the letter from Bianca's lawyers below and Femi's response.

“We have been briefed and our services retained by Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain to demand from you an unreserved apology and a retraction of a false and malicious statement, which you published online and also caused to be published in the Leadership Newspaper of August 16, 2013.

"In the said article entitled, ‘Neither a Tribalist nor a Hater,’ you recklessly alleged, as follows: ‘I was not a tribalist when I had a long standing and intimate relationship with Miss Bianca Onoh…’, a statement, which you know is untrue and unfounded, but only calculated to lower our client’s esteem and damage her national and international reputation.

"Our client has never met you, does not know you in person and has never had any official or private relationship with you how much more ‘a long-standing and intimate relationship.’

“Our client is therefore, outraged by your bizarre and scandalous allegation and the numerous mails and telephone calls she has received from friends, relations and admirers who are equally embarrassed and who seek to confirm the veracity or otherwise of your false and reckless publication.

“Your apparent lame and half-hearted attempt, as published in the Leadership Newspaper of 17th August 2013, to clarify your false and malicious allegation falls far short of a retraction and does not sufficiently address the damage to our client arising from the widespread dissemination of your false publication and is therefore unacceptable to our client.

“In the circumstances, we demand, on the instruction of our client that you submit to her a clear and unqualified apology and retraction published in The Sun and Thisday newspapers in addition to having the retraction published online.

“Take note that should you fail to tender the apology and publish a retraction of your false and malicious publication, seven days next after your receipt of this demand notice, our further instructions are to seek appropriate redress in court. And that shall be without further recourse to you. Be properly guided.”



Chief Femi Fani Kayode has response via his spokesperson - Mr Bisi Lawal

This morning Cheif Femi Fani-Kayode woke up to find a letter that was published as an advertorial in Thisday Newspaper purportedly by Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu's lawyer threatening to sue him for mentioning her in his article and claiming that she has never met him before. She also said that he was being malicious. The matter has of course been reffered to Chief Fani-Kayode's lawyers who will now take it up.

Ordinarily he would have not have said a word about this matter because he sympathises with her for whatever she may have been going through. However now that she has put it in the public realm Cheif Fani-Kayode is compelled to formally respond. To the assertion that he never knew her and that they were never friends he says this is false and he asks why would he lie? The public evidence is to the contrary. Chief Fani-Kayode would not want to say anything to embarrass her because that would be ungentlemanly.

He sympathises with her delicate situation and once again he expresses his regrets about the fact that his statement about her was misconstrued. We shall just leave it at that.

Signed by Mr. Bisi Lawal on behalf of Femi Fani Kayode

Over 200 youths invaded Onitsha market 20 injured in clash

Over 200 youths suspected to be Ogbaru youths yesterday invaded the popular Ogboefere (household utensils) market in Onitsha, Anambra State, injuring 20 people.
Eyewitnesses said soldiers from the 302 Artillery Regiment, Onitsha, quelled the crisis.
They said the youths invaded the market to collect revenues from trucks, which were loading and offloading goods.
It was learnt that the traders resisted and this caused a free-for-all. The President of Household Utensils Dealers Multi Purpose Co-operative Society (HUDMCS), Livinus Obiegonu, lamented the development, which he said was worrisome.

“This market is known as one of the most peaceful markets in Anambra State but this was shattered yesterday when these youths swooped on us.
“They reeked of alcohol as they began to puncture and deflate vehicle tyres and removing vehicle plate numbers.
“They said we should pay amounts, ranging from N3,000 to N12,000 but we told them that this market is a co-operative society. That was when they began to attack us.”
The Commissioner for Transport, Chike Ohamobi, confirmed that some contactors were given authority to collect revenue from heavy-duty vehicles.
But he said they have a strict code of conduct guiding their operations.
Ohamobi said nobody was authorised to enter any market for vehicle revenue collection.
The Divisional Police Officer in charge of Okpoko, Ogbaru Division, Emeka Ugwu, said he was on official leave but some police sources confirmed the incident.

APGA has elected Willy Obiano and I will abide by the decision of the party.: Uche Ekwunife

 
Obiano scored a total of 817 out of 1,072 votes cast with Mrs Uche Ekwunife coming second with 150 votes.
Other aspirants, Paul Odenigbo scored 49 votes, Emeka Nwogbo clinched 22 votes and John Nwosu scored 18 votes. Prince John Emeka, who withdrew from the race  before the primaries, got one vote while invalid votes were 33.
Declaring the results, the Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Chief Martin Agbaso, described the election as peaceful  and a victory not only for Anambra State but for APGA nationwide.
Chief Agbaso confirmed that out of the seven aspirants, one voluntarily withdrew from the race and declared Chief Willie Obiano the winner of the primary election.
The Chairman of Anambra East Council Area, Mr Chinedu Obidigwe commended the exercise that produced Obiano as the party’s candidate, stressing that the people of the zone would not relent on their duty.
In his acceptance speech, Obiano said:  “ I speak to you today with every sense of humility and accept this call with full sense of humility and responsibility. I congratulate other aspirants, even those who were disqualified.
“My dear friends, this is not the end but our job just began. It is not personal but a victory for all, I will work tirelessly with the governor to ensure continuity of the project.”
On his part, Governor Peter Obi said: “In the next few days, we are going to bring everybody together. My next journey is to ensure that we work as a team because it is only when we work together that we have victory.”
This state is an APGA state and it will remain APGA state.”
Meanwhile, Uche Ekwunife has accepted to abide by the outcome of the primary election that produced Willie Obiano as APGA’s candidate.
Ekwunife, who came second in the election behind Obiano said, “ APGA has elected their candidate and I have said that I will abide by the decision of the party.”

Ghana: Court may overturn John Dramani Mahama’s election

 John Dramani Mahama Ghana’s new President

 ACCRA (AFP) – Ghana’s highest court will issue a long-awaited ruling Thursday on whether to overturn President John Dramani Mahama’s election win last year on fraud allegations, a test for one of Africa’s most stable democracies.

The lawsuit by the New Patriotic Party, the country’s largest opposition party, over Mahama’s victory in the December 2012 election has been the subject of more than eight months of litigation in Ghana’s Supreme Court.

The sometimes tense proceedings have been broadcast live on radio and television and have been followed closely across the nation of 25 million people.

“Ghana’s elections will never be the same again, irrespective of how the ruling goes,” said Franklin Cudjoe, director of the IMANI think-tank in the capital Accra.

No matter how it rules, the court is likely to issue recommendations, he said.

The nine justices hearing the case have wide latitude to rule: they could reject the case, order that elections be held again, or decide that the electoral commission should overturn Mahama’s win.

According to the electoral commission, a defendant in the case along with the president and his National Democratic Congress party, Mahama took 50.7 percent of the vote over NPP candidate Nana Akufo-Addo’s 47.7 percent in the polls that observers called fair.

The NPP claims they were marred by irregularities, alleging ballot boxes were stuffed, voters were allowed to cast ballots without proper identification, and voting documents were left unsigned.

The case’s outcome is unpredictable and the possibility of a court-ordered change of power presents a high-stakes challenge.

Ghana is west Africa’s second-largest economy, thanks to exports of gold and cocoa along with a nascent oil industry, which began production in 2010.

Since 1992, Ghana has carried out six multi-party elections in a region where democracy remains fleeting for many.

Mahama’s successful campaign was built around his promise to continue the work of President John Atta Mills, his predecessor who died in office in July 2012. Mahama, who was vice-president at the time, took over after Mills’ death.

Akufo-Addo campaigned on a platform that centred on a controversial promise of free high school for all.

“We are confident in the merits of the case,” said Gabby Otchere-Darko, an adviser to Akufo-Addo. “We’re pretty confident that Ghana is on course for a historical verdict for democracy in Africa.”

While the 2012 elections were generally unmarred by violence, many in Ghana are wary of the type of bloody unrest seen after recent elections in Nigeria or neighbouring Ivory Coast.

There have been widespread calls for restraint from politicians and religious leaders.

Meanwhile, the police and military have taken to marching around the capital Accra in a show of readiness for the aftermath of the verdict.

Both parties have said they will accept the court’s ruling, though Ghana’s laws leaves the door open for further appeals.

“We are confident that the (opposition members) don’t have any case,” said George Lawson, an NDC official. “We’ve also advised our people not to engage in any violence.”

Everything from the conduct of the lawyers and witnesses to the quality of the evidence has been debated on the airwaves and written about in Ghana’s feisty press.

In June, irate judges declared that anyone making disparaging public statements about the court could be held in contempt.

Those who ran afoul of the order were kicked out of the courtroom, fined, or, in a few cases, jailed.

Editor of the Daily Searchlight newspaper Ken Kuranchie was jailed for 10 days in July for contempt after publicly criticising the judges.

The jailing sparked debate over Ghana’s contempt laws, many of which date back to British colonial rule.

But as the verdict looms, Cudjoe said the court’s willingness to spend months hearing the case deserves praise.

“Ours is a young democracy,” Cudjoe said. “We will have to see whether all these fine legal arguments that have been made are substantial enough to overturn an African election.”

Beverly Osu speaks About Sex With Angelo/AfroCandy's porn Movie Offer

 #BBA Contestant, Beverly Osu in a recent interview turned down Nigerian soft-porn star, Afrocandy generous offer to feature in her next movie.

Read what she said below
On Angelo’s supposed girlfriend Candice

I don’t want to talk about his so called girlfriend cos I don’t know anything about her.

If she had sex  with Angelo in the house?

I did not have sex with Angelo. I loved him and I still love him. I would get married to Angelo if I had the chance! 

And when asked about the bathtub scene with the South African, she insisted, ‘I’ll still say nothing happened between me and Angelo‘.

What exactly was your strategy? Was it to say it all?

I talk a lot. My strategy was nothing. I just went with the flow

On Afrocandy generous offer to feature her in one of her porn movie

Afrocandy nibo? No oooo…..Thanks for the offer but NO!

About her plans for tomorrow

 I’ll continue with my online reality show ‘Beverly Says’ and I’ll finish school…That’s what important now!
READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/45467.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=share-button&utm_campaign=facebook

Syria: Who wants what after chemical weapons horror

 

(CNN) -- The ripple effects of an alleged chemical attack in Syria are being felt across the globe. The rhetoric is ratcheting up with talk of punishing Syria, even though Syria denies using chemical weapons. Allies of President Bashar al-Assad accuse the rebel forces of carrying out the chemical strike.

Meanwhile rebel forces, who also deny responsibility for the strike, say 1,300 people died in the attacks on the outskirts of Damascus. CNN correspondents and experts explain the different positions of some key nations involved in preparing for -- or warning against -- international military attacks on Syria.

Lagos State Govt has neither terminated nor cancelled the Concession Agreementt with LCC in Lekki-Epe Expressway

The Lagos State Government has announced its intention to buy back LCCs concession rights in the Eti-Osa Lekki-Epe Expressway. Find a press statement from the State Govt below..

The Lagos State Government wishes to state clearly that it has neither terminated nor cancelled the Concession Agreement it entered into with the Lekki Concession Company Limited (LCC) to reconstruct and expand the 49.36 km Eti-Osa Lekki-Epe Expressway.

To set the records straight, Lagos State Government is engaged in buying back the rights pertaining to the concession ahead of the 30-year period stipulated in the Design, Build, Operate and Transfer (DBOT) Concession Agreement. This is to be achieved by purchasing all the shares in LCC.

The State Government came to this decision to buy back the rights in the light of several developments clearly not envisaged in the 2006 Concession Agreement (which became effective in 2008) a few of which are highlighted below.

The project, given its pioneering nature, had some underlying assumptions and market indicators under which the transaction was concluded which have since drastically changed in a manner that it can no longer be sustained in its current form. Such include the devaluation of the Naira and costs of construction.

The LCC, which is the special purpose vehicle representing the investors, formally brought it to the attention of the State Government that given the rapid rise in interest rates on local loans, and other cost parameters, it is compelled to raise tolls currently being charged at Toll Plaza One from N120.00 to N144.00 per Car. 

The Concessionaire also brought it to the attention of the State Government, that as provided for under the agreement, tolling would have to commence at Toll Plaza Two.

In addition, the Concessionaire indicated that unless it realised more income from increased rates at Toll Plaza One and commence tolling at the same rate per Car at Toll Plaza Two, it would not be able to meet its commitments to investors in the project and continue to fund completion of the remaining sections of the road. 

Furthermore, the LCC stated that Toll Plaza Three, as contained in the Agreement, must be built and tolls collected for the continued viability of the project.

Under such circumstances, the Lagos State Government felt obliged to buy out the interests of the Concessionaire in advance of the hand-over date of 2038 under a mutual settlement option also expressly provided for in the Concession Agreement. This is after due consultation with all major stakeholders including the Lagos State House of Assembly based on various feedback and agitation made to the Government.

Contrary to the misleading reports by some sections of the media on Wednesday, August 27, 2013 from the State House of Assembly’s consideration and approval of the 2013 Supplementary Budget, the buy-back is not and does not amount to a “termination” or “cancellation” of the concession of Eti-Osa, Lekki-Epe Expressway.

The significance of the buy-back, for which the State Government deserves commendation, is that it allows the Government to take full control over the determination of the toll rates in order to continue to make it affordable for road users. The LCC shall therefore continue to operate as a fully commercial entity for the benefit of taxpayers and the larger society.

More importantly, it would also preserve the ability of the Government to complete and deliver the infrastructure by direct budget funding, which was also one of the reasons for the presentation of the Year 2013 Budget Re-Ordering to the State House of Assembly.

In addition LASG wishes to reaffirm its unflinching commitment to the adoption of PPP Model as a complementary policy thrust for the acceleration of infrastructure delivery towards improving the living standards of the populace. Lagos remains an investor friendly State that shall continue to ensure the sanctity of contracts, as in this case, in sustaining investors’ confidence in its investment climate as a preferred destination.

The general public is therefore enjoined to continue to cooperate with LCC's officials and operatives as it continues the expansion and construction works on the 49.36km Eti-Osa Lekki-Epe Expressway and the operations of the toll collection systems. LASG wishes you a safe and happy motoring experience on the modernised expressway with its associated free value added services such as 24/7 security patrol, vehicle break down recovery, ambulance services, amongst others.

Eko oni baje O!

Ayo Gbeleyi                                                              

Honourable Commissioner for Finance

Ade Ipaye Honourable Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice

Wednesday, 28 August 2013

Young Shall Grow Motor boss attacked in Festac, driver&escort killed

The CEO of The Young Shall Grow Motors, Chief Vincent Obianodo, was attacked by suspected assassins on Tuesday night August 27th on 22 Road in Festac Town, Lagos, killing his driver and police escort. He narrowly escaped death.

The multimillionaire businessman was returning home from work on Tuesday night when an SUV double-crossed his vehicle in a lonely area, and some armed men opened fire on Chief Obianodo's car. His orderly who attempted to fire back was killed, his driver who was trying to escape was also killed while Chief Obianodo was shot in the arm.

The shooting attracted the attention of some policemen on patrol in the area who rushed down to the scene and engaged the gunmen in a shoot out, killing two of them.

Chief Obianodo was rushed to the hospital where he is responding to treatment. The Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, who confirmed the incident said it is under investigation.

Who wants Ngige out?

 Soludo, Ogene, Odenigbo, Uzoh, Mrs. Ekwunife , Okonkwo, Ndubuisi and Ifeanyi Uba

 
The APC is yet to hold its governorship primaries, but some folks in Anambra are apparently not waiting for the primaries to tackle the party’s presumptive nominee, Senator Chris Ngige.

Ngige’s chances of picking the APC ticket brightened last week after his major rival and predecessor in the Senate, Senator Annie Okonkwo agreed to step down for him following strong persuasions by Governor Rochas Okorocha. In fact, Senator Okonkwo followed his decision by collapsing his own formidable political machinery into Ngige’s campaign and agreeing to become the campaign manager for Ngige.

Now, even before the formal endorsement of Ngige as the APC candidate, a civil society group, the Conference of Nigeria Registered Voters has petitioned INEC, over what it claims as the system adopted by APC in picking its governorship candidate for the November 16 gubernatorial election in the state.

Chairman of the group, Mr. Jezie Ekejiuba, in the petition addressed to the chairman of INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega said APC has hot followed the provisions of the Electoral Act in selecting its flag bearer for the election.

He said: “It may interest your commission to know that at the time of this petition, APC has not no interim state executive of state chairman of the party recognized by your commission. Also, the party has not conducted any congress or primary at the ward and local government levels and has not issued nomination forms for the three governorship aspirants of the party.

“Besides, it is improper for Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State to announce to the whole world that the party primaries of September 2 would be a mere formality because the party already has a candidate in the person of Senator Chris Ngige.

“The adoption of Ngige is a clear violation of the provision of Section 87 of the Electoral Act (as amended, which provides for nomination of governorship candidates of political parties where there are two or more aspirants.”

According to him, APC has, in addition to Ngige, two other aspirants namely, Mr. Godwin Ezemo and Mr. Hyger Igwebuike.

Ekejiuba threatened to lodge his petition at the Federal High Court under originating summons to seek the interpretation of the provision of the Electoral Act relating to the nomination of governorship candidates.

Nwoye seeks peace with past enemies
The PDP candidate, Comrade Tony Nwoye who was yesterday received by the national leadership of the party has been going out of his way to repair damages and hurt sensibilities that preceded his emergence.

But even more than that, the former student activist is also reaching out to established political interests in the state who took the posture of “siddon look” in the run up to the primaries.

As party chairman for about three years, Comrade Nwoye obviously hurt many political chieftains in the state, especially given the impression that he was at that time an associate of the then powerful presidential aide, Andy Uba who has now turned a senator. Indeed, Senator Uba emerged as governor of Anambra State in 2007 under Nwoye’s watch as party chairman.

Following his emergence as the party’s candidate, Comrade Nwoye it was learnt has been making a tour of many of those he may have hurt to appease them. Where not, Nwoye has equally been making phone calls to soothe frayed nerves of political chieftains.

Obiano is spotless — Menakaya
THOSE who have questioned the propriety of APGA choosing a political greenhorn to fly the party’s flag in the election can now be assured of one plausible reason the party machine moved towards Willie Obiano.

The chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, Chief Tim Menakaya has disclosed that Chief Ralph Obiano’s victory was informed by the party’s resolve to present a candidate with an unquestionable record.

Menakaya, who said this in a chat with Vanguard in Akwa, also dismissed claims that those who stepped down for Obiano were forced to do so.

His words: “His emergence is an asset to the party because he is clean and has got good background. He represents a new dawn. That was why he was elected. He emerged because he will continue the good work the party accordingly.”

He further said, “People should stop peddling rumors and learn to appreciate a good product. No body was forced to step down. Those who did that acted on their own and in the interest of the party. At the end we are happy that are presenting a good candidate. What is left is for Obiano to go out there and win the election for the party.”

…He is no weakling — Obidigo
CHAIRMAN of Anambra East Local Goverment Area Mr. Chinedu Obidigbo has debunked claims that the APGA candidate, Chief Willie Obiano is a weakling who would be eaten raw by the candidates of the two major other parties, Chris Ngige of APC and Tony Nwoye of PDP.

He also dismissed assertions that Obiano has no structure in the state as he affirmed that with Obiano, APGA is certain to claim victory in the forthcoming election.

“What do they mean that he has no structure? What manner of structure are they talking about? Those claims are baseless and hold no weight. The party has spoken by presenting its best.”

“So the question of him being weak only exists within the imagination of the people making the claims.”

“I am saying this for the umpteenth time that there is no chance for any political party in Anambra State. APGA has done creditably well to deserve continuation. So what we are looking for now is consolidation”

Gov. Peter Obi’s footprints on Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Ihiala

The Government of Mr. Peter Obi, in partnership with the Churches, is re-building some missionary owned hospitals based on the philosophy that they also serve the people of the State. At affordable cost, since they essentially operate as charity organizations.
We will tour these hospitals to bring to you, esteemed readers, what he has actually done for them.
The pictures you are seeing are structures he completed or that are still on-going at our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Ihiala.
They are (1.) Accident and Emergency Building; (2.) School of Medical Lab; (3) Hostel Block ; and (4) School of Midwifery.          More photos below:

Child marriage: woman seeks divorce, husband demands N300,000

 
Nasarawa  – Aisha Haruna , 20, of Uke in Nasarawa State on Tuesday at a Grade 1 Area Court in Mararaba, Nasarawa State, maintained her divorce request.

Aisha had on May 29 filed a suit seeking separation from her husband, Hussaini Haruna, 27, of Gurku Village,

At the resumption of hearing, she told the court that she and her husband could not resolve the matter after the last adjourned date on Aug. 19.

The husband, who spoke through his counsel, Nuru Mua’zu, demanded Islamic procedure of divorce.

“This is an Islamic matter and there are procedures to follow before a wife is granted her wish for divorce.

“One of the procedures is that the woman has to pay what is known as ‘Kuli’.

“Kuli means, paying back some of the expenses the husband made in the course of marrying the wife.

“Though I don’t have the document here, but the total expenses is around N300,000,” Mua’zu said.

He told the court that Aisha was eight months pregnant for Haruna.

Mua’zu applied for adjournment to enable him bring the document containing the list of expenses.

The presiding judge, Mr Musa Danjuma, granted the counsel’s application and adjourned the case to Sept. 2 for continuation of hearing.

The wife had earlier told the court that her parents gave her out in marriage at the age of 13 without her consent.

The mother of one said that she stayed in the marriage for seven years, adding that she had lost interest in the marriage.

She said her loss of interest was on the ground that she was a child at that time the marriage was contracted. (NAN)

Did J. Cole let Diddy down?

 

The MTV VMAs have been in the news for a host of shocking moments but none has our jaw on the floor more than the story that J. Cole got into a fight with P. Diddy! According to the rumour mill, J. Cole and Diddy got into a little scuffle at one of the after-parties held for the VMAs. No one knows what the argument was about but J. Cole was allegedly escorted out of the venue for incident.

Both Diddy and J. Cole have since tweeted about it but none of them clearly dismiss the rumour.Read both Cole and Didiy`s tweets below:

  J. Cole        ✔ @JColeNC

people will believe anything

1:36 AM - 27 Aug 2013

 

  Diddy        ✔ @iamdiddy

I usually don't address rumors but I got too much respect for my bro @JColeNC. We are friends. We just yell in public sometimes LOL #Fam

12:35 AM - 27 Aug 2013

Photo: OJB Jezreel in a hospital in India

OJB left Nigeria for India last Friday August 23rd for his kidney transplant. Treatment has already begun, please keep praying for him.

I Am Disappointed In You” – WizKid Reacts To J-Martins Allegedly Blasting Him Over Calling A Fan Broke

 

A few weeks ago, WizKid made a comment on his instagram page reacting to a diss from a fan on his photo. The comment made headlines all over twitter and caused a lot of people to react negatively towards him.
Yesterday, we reported that J-martins had blasted WizKid over the comment he made to the fan in question. If you miss it, see it HERE .
Meanwhile, WizKid took to twitter not too long ago to defend himself and also state that he’s disappointed in J-Martins for making such a statement….See the tweets below:

Afrocandy Invites Beverly Osu For A Role In Her ‘ashewo’ Movie

Afrocandy says if Beverly could do it infront of all, then she can do her movie. Hope Beverly replies her.
 

Syrian eyewitness accounts of alleged chemical weapons attack in Damascus

A mother and father weep over their child's body who was killed in a suspected chemical weapons attack on the Damascus suburb of Ghouta Photograph: REX/Erbin News/NurPhoto

Few people sleep early in Damascus, even in times of war. So when shells started to crunch into the east of the capital at around 2am on Wednesday, Um Hassan and her four children were wide awake, bracing for familiar sounds of bombs falling on buildings and the empty road below.
Soon, though, loudspeakers in the neighbourhood, some attached to mosque minarets, started blaring terrifying warnings – telling residents to leave their houses and flee.
"We were in a panic to take the children and run out of Zemalka to any nearby villages," said Um Hassan of her area in the east Ghouta district of the capital. "People who were sleeping in their homes died in their beds because they could not feel the effects of the attack."
Headaches and nausea quickly overcame the family as they scrambled though blackened streets towards the family car, a violent cacophony of shelling all around and the air filling with a strange, noxious odour.
"I still feel sick and drowsy with all the smoke I have breathed," she said 36 hours after the attack, which killed hundreds of people, wounded many more, and sparked outrage around the world.
"As we were trying to [leave], I could see people coming out of their homes but they would fall down. We tried to help some of them but they died before we got them to the hospital."
The attack seemed relentless, according to Um Hassan and other victims and first responders contacted by the Guardian via Skype onThursday. The Syrian government has acknowledged that its military launched a large operation in eastern Ghouta in the early hours of Thursday, but has vehemently denied the use of chemical weapons.
"We picked up a woman with her two kids, the rocket had hit their house but … they all died. I could see the foam coming out of their mouths and noses."
Not far away in Zemalka, Abu Omar, a militant with the Free Syrian Army, was on call when he heard the first rocket land. "I ran to my house immediately to check if my wife and kids were OK. When I reached home, I began to smell something like vinegar and rotten eggs. Then, I heard people shouting that the district was under attack by chemical rockets. I and some of my colleagues ran to the FSA headquarters in Zemalka to get ambulances to evacuate the people.
"We were in a district called Al-Mazra'a. We started to knock on the doors, calling people to get out. Those who were not responding or opening the doors, we began to break their doors and look for people inside. We were able to evacuate 20 people. None of them were dead but they were suffocating.
"We distributed them among the makeshift hospitals in the district. It is really a miracle that none of the victims were dead ... though some of them were foaming at the mouth and their bodies were turning blue."
Abu Omar says another burst of rockets landed around 3am. But they were unlike other explosions that had regularly peppered the area for the last year as regime forces tried to dislodge rebel groups and the communities that backed them from their stronghold less than seven miles from the heart of Damascus.
"You could hear the sound of the rocket in the air but you could not hear any sound of explosion." And they caused no visible damage to any buildings. The smell became overpowering.
Abu Omar says he tried to seek shelter in the local mosque, but was turned back by the scene of a sheikh and his family lying dead. The dead and dying were by now all around.
"I went to one of the houses and found an infant who was a year and a half old. I can't forget this scene till now," he said. He was jumping like a bird, struggling to breathe. I held him immediately and ran to the car but he died. I swear to God the number of the dead infants and children are more than the numbers of elders. We even broke the locks of the shops to pile the victims inside. In one of the shops, there were 200 children."
Also in Zemalka on Wednesday morning, Ashraf Hassan, 18, and his four friends were playing cards.
"Around 1.30am, we started to hear shouts of people for help. We did not hear any attack or shelling. We went out to find out that the district is in complete chaos and panic. At 2am, mortars started to fall.
"We began to break in houses to check out about the people inside. In one of the houses, I found four brothers sleeping opposite each other dead in their bed and their parents were dead too in another room. All of them suffocated. I could see foam on their mouths and noses.
"I helped many other guys evacuate bodies and some people who were still alive … until I myself started to smell the gas.
"The smell was like cooking gas. My friends told me to wear a mask on my nose and mouth but I began to feel nausea and vomiting. My eyes turned very red and started to itch.
"I felt I'm almost going to lose consciousness. I woke up today with very itching eyes and could not open them at all, so I came to the hospital for treatment."
He said all those who survived the attack were suffering from the same symptoms.
As whatever it was that dropped on Zemalka and two other areas in eastern Ghouta continues to ravage its residents, survivors and eyewitnesses have tried to piece together where the rockets or missiles were fired from.
Two areas of the capital, not far away, and both in regime held areas are being scrutinised.
"They came from around four kilometres away," said Haitham Baghdadi, a resident of Jobar, who on Thursday was trying to flee with his family to Jordan. "One site was the October War Panorama, and another was the air base. They have tried to wipe us off the map. SOURCE

Peter PSquare Rains Thousands of Dollar Bills On Strip*ers In A Chicago Strip Club

This Guys are having so much Fun. Peter, his brother Paul and their crew have been in the States for some days now having concerts.And this is where Peter showed up last night to unwind. #Toomuchmoney lol.. But i thought he just got Engaged? i hope his fiance don't mind!

 

Blanket ban on ‘African’ tenants unfair, dialogue needed, says state rep

PETALING JAYA, Aug 27 — An all-out ban against Africans as tenants may backfire on Malaysians, PKR’s Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad has suggested, and pledged to meet with the condominium management that moved to drive out renters from the continent last week.

The assemblyman for Seri Setia, the state constituency where the controversial Ridzuan Condominium is located, said he would arrange for a meeting soon with the apartment residents and the authorities to facilitate a peaceful solution to the simmering row that has taken on a racial slant that may become a diplomatic concern unless handled properly.

“I’ve always tried to tell (my constituents) that my stand is, it’s unfair. We cannot have a blanket ban... If we’re overseas we don’t want to be treated that way,” Nik Nazmi (picture) told The Malay Mail Online here, referring to racial discrimination.

“I will discuss with them on the matter, together with the authorities, for residents to feel safe and at the same time be fair to foreign tenants,” he said.

He added that he would be calling on the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), a commissioner of buildings, the Immigration Department and the police to help mediate in the occupancy problem the condominium’s local residents seem to have with foreigners.

The Malay Mail Online had yesterday reported the unprecedented occupancy ban imposed last week by the management of Ridzuan Condominium in Bandar Sri Subang here against “African” tenants, telling the renters they have three months to vacate their units.

The decision came after the majority of the condominium’s residents voted at an annual general meeting held on July 6 against renting their units to foreigners from the continent, whom they allege to have “caused a lot of nuisance”.

According to Nik Nazmi, residents in his constituency have filed countless complaints not just against tenants from Africa, but also those from Indonesia and mainland China.

The state lawmaker believes there may be some grounds for the residents’ wariness to the foreigners living in their midst, noting the regularity of non-Malaysians being caught by the police during their swoops to clean up the area of undocumented immigrants, crime suspects and for other related illegal activities.

“I would state strongly that it’s very important first that we should not racialise the issue... If anyone commits a crime, we should look at it case by case,” he said.

Most of the complaints, he said, were against foreigners who tended to crowd their apartment units with groups of 10 people, sometimes even 20 to a unit.

The disproportionate number of tenants in high-rise homes dotting the area had inadvertently caused common facilities such as elevators to suffer more damage, he noted.

“Once one community comes in, they will tell their members to come and stay in the area... When there are a lot of tenants, less propensity to pay for maintenance,” said Nik Nazmi.

He noted that the bulk of the complainants were from property owners who also resided in the condominium and felt their rights as citizens had been ignored.

The second-term assemblyman’s call was reflected in a similar statement issued today by his political foe from Umno, Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan.

The urban wellbeing, housing and local government minister had advised Malaysians against sending the “wrong signal” to the world with the ban.

“To say that every African is a troublemaker is grossly unfair... I think we need to ensure there is no racial profiling, it’s dangerous,” Abdul Rahman told reporters after delivering a keynote address at a National Housing and Property Summit here.

Calling the restriction “crazy”, Abdul Rahman urged concerned owners and management boards to deal with problematic tenants on a case-by-case basis.

The Ridzuan Condominium ban may be the first attempt of its kind reported in Malaysia after years of alleged discrimination and hostility towards the oft-maligned African community, including in the mainstream media.

Despite being a continent of 54 countries with diverse and distinct ethnicities, cultures, languages and societies, its migrants are commonly pigeonholed using the “African” catchall, while the derogatory label “Awang Hitam” (literally, Black Fellow) is also used by Malay-language dailies in reference to their dominant skin colour.

The negative perception towards African migrants in Malaysia is believed to stem from the frequency of cases of drug smuggling, financial scams, frauds and sex crimes reportedly involving the group.

The Immigration Department reported that a total of 79,352 Africans entered the country last year.

The department also issued 25,467 student visas to Africans in 2012 to study in public or private institutions.

In view of this development, I suggest an emergency meeting of NIDO-MY executive to discuss on ways to respond to it.

Kingsley Efobi.O
PRO
NIDO-MY

J.Martins Blasts Wizkid For Being Proud And Arrogant To His Loyal Fans

J.martins in a recent interview on Hot Fm 98.3 Abuja reacted to Wizkid’s outburst after he (Wizkid) was told by a fan he needed to go back to school for his poor use of tenses. Wizkid had lashed back calling the writer a ‘broke fan’

J Martins on the show said ‘I’m not taking any side, don’t mean no beef, no disrespect, and no hate but let the truth be told. I don’t believe because you feel you have a few change you didn’t have a few years ago and which you cannot guarantee having in a few years to come then you wake up and look at those people who have cheered you up, loved you, supported your music, bought your CD’s, prayed for you, just because you can lay your hands on some phone and you call them ‘poor’. Am not in and will never be in support of anyone who has such bad attitude.

“It needs to be corrected, we owe our fans the duty of being good examples that’s why they hold us in high esteem, that’s why you are a role model and if you know you cannot be a good role model you have no business in Music. You don’t know if it’s that person that might help you tomorrow, whoever does that should be checked.

Do you think video games encourage real violence?

 

The long-running debate about violence in video games was rekindled over the weekend with reports that an 8-year-old boy who police say shot and killed his elderly caregiver had been playing "Grand Theft Auto IV," a game rated as appropriate for adults.

To be sure, there's plenty of content in video games that's not for kids. Virtually everyone agrees on that, and there's an industry-created ratings system in place to help parents decide which games are appropriate and which ones aren't.

The ratings, like those at a movie theater, provide guidelines and create rules for game retailers. (California's law, which the U.S. Supreme Court struck down in 2011, would have judged games differently though, making it a crime if a retailer doesn't follow them.)

But even the current ratings system was born out of controversy. And, as games get more graphic and complex, it hasn't stemmed the tide of complaints about some titles.

Studies have been inconclusive about what role, if any, video games play in encouraging real-world violence. But the argument isn't new.

In light of this week's shooting, here's a look at 10 video games that sparked controversy with their violent content -- and what it was that made them so polarizing.

1. 'Death Race' (1976)

At this point, it's downright quaint.

But when it hit arcades more than three decades ago, "Death Race" (based on the cult movie "Death Race 2000") may have been the first video game to spark controversy for its violence.

In the chunky, black-and-white pixilated graphics of the time, players ran down "gremlins" in their vehicles. The targets squealed and cried, and were then replaced by tombstones on the screen. It didn't help when word leaked that the working title had been "Pedestrian."

It was enough to prompt the National Safety Council to call the game "morbid" and earn it a spot in a "60 Minutes" segment on violence in games.

2. 'Mortal Kombat' (1992)

The '90s classic has spawned innumerable sequels that have found themselves pretty well in the middle of the pack in terms of fighting-game violence.

But when it hit arcades in 1992 and home consoles the next year, "Mortal Kombat" jumped out because of the gore it depicted in digitized graphics.

Brandishing severed heads, ripping out hearts and spines and the like helped put "Mortal Kombat" at the head of a pack of games that prompted hearings in Congress and, eventually, led to the creation of the Entertainment Software Rating Board.

The gore also helped it to become one of the most popular video games of all time.

This year's reboot (often called "Mortal Kombat 9") does its best to uphold the tradition. Options include eating an opponent's head, pulling out their stomach after spitting acid down their throat and slicing them in half with a buzz saw.

Read More  here