School replaces a blind boy's cane with a pool toy

A school has come under scrutiny when an 8 year-old boy, Dakota Nafzinger born without eyes, as a result of a medical condition called Bilateral Anopthalmia, had his walking cane taken from him after he was reported to have hit someone with it on the school bus.

After the incidence, his school Gracemore Elementary School in Kansas city ,US took his cane away but replaced it with a swimming pool noodle 'because he fidgets without his cane' reports Michelle Cronk, the school district spokes woman. This did not go down with the mother of the boy as she asks; ‘Why would you do that? Why would you take the one thing you’re suppose to use all the time – that’s his eyes. ‘He’s gone through so much in his life already – eight years – and I just don’t like someone else putting my son in that position. According to the boy's father, Donald Nafzinger, said his son sometimes lifts the cane, but the bus driver thought he was using it to be violent. The father believes his son is being humiliated.

It would have been unbearable f or the parents.

14 year-old boy cleared of murder 70 years after

George Stinney 14, was convicted of beating two young white girls to death in 1944 in Alcolu South Carolina. A case which led to his execution via an electric chair after his white lawyer did not perform a cross examination nor get witnesses for him. Judge Carmen Mullen's ruling on Wednesday clears Stinney's name saying he was never given any kind of defense and that due process was breached.

In her words she said "Given the particularized circumstances of Stinney's case, I find by a preponderance of the evidence standard, that a violation of the Defendant's procedural due process rights tainted his prosecution," 

Stories you hear and you'd wish you can turn back the hands of time. This verdict might just be seen as unpleasant in reference to the racial profiling going on in America.

Lupita Nyong'o and David Oyelowo to star in 'Americanah'

Academy award winner,Lupita Nyong'o and David Oyelowo are set to co-star in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's novel 'Americanah'. The story tells of young Nigerian immigrant couple Ifemelu and Obinze facing the hurdles of life whilst their relationship persists.
Nyong'o has been affiliated with the project since June while Oyelowo recently signed on just after he received a Golden Globe nomination.

Culled from; Variety

Diezani Alison-Madueke appointed President GECF

Three weeks after becoming the first female President of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke has again been appointed as the President of Gas Exporting Countries Forum(GECF), making her the first woman to occupy this position again.
The appointment was announced on Tuesday in Doha, Qatar at the ongoing 16th Ministerial Conference of the GECF.

Many Congratulations Ma'am.

Today's Wise Saying

"When spirits beat drums for human beings to dance, the human beings must dance like the spirits too" - Hauwa Garba Mankilik

Today's Wise Saying

"What the dog sees and barks at, the sheep has already seen and remained silent." A Yoruba proverb.

Australians Muslims and non-Muslims rally round each other in time of grief

Australians have shown the world how to come together in time of grief. This is coming after an extremist Iranian-born gunman, Man Haron Monis 50, unleashed terror in the city of Sydney on Monday morning when people were busy going about their day-to-day activities. He stormed Lindt Chocolate Cafe in central Sydney holding people hostage, causing terror and engaging the Police in a gun battle after a long tiring 16 hour that resulted in a siege. Two hostages(a woman and a man) and the gun man died and four others were injured as the siege ended in a violent way.

In the above picture are a number of people from the Muslim community praying after they laid flowers at a floral memorial, a scene where the whole siege took place. Australians are still struggling to come to terms with this unfortunate incidence which has put a test on what bonds them as Aussies.

Horror! Taliban gunmen invades a Pakistani school kills more than 100

                                           An injured student being taken away to hospital                      (Pic:AP)

Taliban militants have on Tuesday morning invaded a military-run school killing over a 100 people including children in Pesharwar, a north-west city in Pakistan. The attack started with random shootings by the gunmen when they stormed the school said police officer Javed Khan. The Army Public School has got up to 500 student starting from grade 1-10 including teachers. The school is located on the edge of the military garrison and consist more of civilian students. The premises of the school has been evacuated and military operatives have taken over the surrounding area and pushing people back. Students in blood soaked uniforms were taken away to hospital and parents are everywhere in search of their wards.

Lewis Hamilton Wins BBC Sport Personality of the Year 2014

Lewis Hamilton and his dog Roscoe

Lewis Hamilton, the Formula1's world titleholder yesterday clinched the BBC Sport Personality of the Year 2014. This award is another addition to the array of his accolades. The 29-year-old arrived the SSE Hydro, Glasgow event venue with his dog Roscoe to win 209,920 of the 620,932 votes cast. Rory McIlroy and and Jo Pavey polled 123,745 (20%) and 99,913 (16%) respectively.

In his words, "I want to say a huge thank you to all the people who called in, I really wasn't expecting it," He added: "I am so speechless. I'm so proud and honoured to be among such great sporting talent."

So happy for him... He has done well to deserve the award.

Malala Yousafzai's Uniform on display

During the last week's award of the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo Norway, Malala had this to say after her uniform was put on two months exhibition display "My uniform is very important to me" "The day I was attacked I was wearing this uniform. I was fighting for my right to go to school." She added "Wearing a uniform made me feel that yes, I am a student.It is an important part of my life" "Now I want to show it to the children, to people all around the world. This is my right, it is the right of every child to go to school"

The executive director of the Nobel Peace Centre Bente Erichsen, said; 'Malala’s blood-stained uniform is a strong and heartbreaking symbol of the forces many girls are fighting for the right to go to school. He added 'The uniform has been kept by the family since the attempted murder in October 2012, and we are grateful that Malala has chosen to show it to the public in our exhibition.

Prince George of Cambridge's new photos released

Prince William and his wife - the Duchess of Cambridge released their chubby little Prince's pictures on Saturday. The 17-month-old was said to have posed for the Christmas pictures in November at the London's Kensington Palace. The cheerful baby was dressed in white collared shirt and navy sweater vest embroidered with guardsmen, shorts, knee length socks and leather buckle shoes.
The baby who shares an uncanny resemblance with the father is seen to be making different funny faces for the camera.

Today's Wise Saying

"You cannot insult the whole village and exempt the village chief" - A Fula Proverb by Malick J Bah.

A dead large whale found in Eleko Beach

The large whale carcass

What seemed to be a dead large Whale was seen on the shore of  Eleko beach in Lagos, Nigeria. Rather than trying to ascertain what led to the death of the poor mammal, people within the vicinity sought their machete to cut the mammal for consumption in their abodes.

Ugandan Maid Jailed for Assaulting Toddler

Nanny Tumuhirrwe docked

A Ugandan maid who assaulted an 18 months old toddler has been jailed for four years. Jolly Tumuhirrwe 22, was exposed in a secret filming while beating, kicking and stamping on the baby left in her care.

Tumuhiirwe on Friday, told the court in Kampala that the attack was as a result of the ill treatment she got from the child's mother. The Chief Magistrate Lilian Buchan told Tumuhiirwe that she had perpetrated an "unjustifiable and inexcusable" crime and as such the sentence was the right measure for the "ruthlessness exhibited" on an "innocent, helpless child", reports the AFP news agency.

24th James Bond Movie is titled 'Spectre'

The movie world was on pulse recently awaiting the title of the 24th James Bond movie at an eleven-minute press conference where the film Director Sam Mendes revealed the title as 'Spectre'.

Ladies man, Daniel Craig would be the 007 for the fourth time in Spectre, others in it would include Ralph Fiennes and Christopher Waltz. The filming of the movie which would premier in the last quarter of 2015 commenced on Monday 8th of December 2014 at Pinewood Studios.

It should be recalled that Mendes was the director of Skyfall - 2012 James Bond movie which realised over £700 million takings across the world.

I wouldn't be missing out in being first in queue at box office once its out.

Its Independence Day in Kenya

We'd like to wish all Kenyans all over the world a Happy independence day celebrations..

Baby born aboard aircraft just after take off.

A pregnant woman has given birth aboard an aircraft minutes after take off. The Southwest Airlines flight from San Francisco to Phoenix had to be diverted to Los Angeles International Airport on Tuesday at 6.34am, when the woman started to have contractions a mid air at 10,000 feet. It turned out that there was a nurse and a doctor and some trained flight attendants who helped to deliver the baby and rescue the situation.
On the plane's landing, the new mother and baby were met by paramedics who took them to the hospital. According to a local news, mother and baby are said to be doing well.

Waoh...The baby didn't want to wait.What an incredible birth!

An Xmas Book-A-Tree

A good idea here. A perfect Christmas tree for book lovers out there..

The Man called 'Dan-Ibro'

Nigerian/Kannywood actor and comedian Rabilu Musa popularly known as Dan-Ibro has passed on. Dan-Ibro died early hours of Wednesday after a long battle with kidney disease and has been buried according to Islamic injunction.

Dan-Ibro was one of the foremost Hausa entertainers who stood the test of time, when the film industry was evolving in northern part of Nigeria. He registered his marks when he featured alongside some Nollywood actors in films, bridging gaps between actors from different parts of the country. Dan-Ibro 44 years-old, is believed to have acted in many movies than any Kannywood actor. He would be fondly remembered for his acts, which were mostly spot on with humour and pun intended.

May his soul rest in peace, I pray for his family to have the fortitude to bear this huge loss.  I pray the acting industry would be able to continue the good work from where he stopped.

He'll be greatly missed.

Men In Grey

Great men of Africa. From left President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda at the 8th Northern Corridor Integration Projects Summit today in Nairobi.