Indian Man Arrested After Letting 9-Year-Old Son Drive Ferrari!

A man was recently arrested in southern India after police caught wind he was letting his nine-year-old son drive the family Ferrari.

The Independent's Rob Williams reports authorities moved in on Mohammed Nisham after footage of the young roadster went viral on Youtube. Nisham is described as "a wealthy property tycoon."

Video of ailing Nelson Mandela prompts outrage in South Africa!

A video of a frail and unamused looking Nelson Mandela surrounded by South African President Jacob Zuma and other officials has prompted cries of political exploitation by the government.

In the footage released by the South African Broadcasting Corp., the 94-year-old Mandela sits in a chair at his Johannesburg home, barely moving and never smiling as leaders from the governing African National Congress arrange themselves for a photo opportunity.

At one point Mandela's grandson takes a picture with flash, causing him to close his eyes and purse his lips. The former president is sensitive to flash photography from his years laboring in quarries during his imprisonment under the country's apartheid government.

Zuma says Mandela is in "good shape," but the footage seems to show him looking anything but -- and the stunt provoked outrage from many in South Africa who accused the ANC and SABC of parading the country's anti-apartheid hero on television for their own benefit. "Very sad seeing the footage of Madiba. And who was the idiot who took a pic of him with a flash? Disgraceful. Leave him alone", tweeted Johannesburg radio DJ John Robbie, using the clan name by which Mandela is widely referred to in South Africa. 

Another Twitter user, Brent Lindeque, wrote: "After everything Madiba has done for us this is how they treat him. Like an animal at the zoo. Shame on the ANC!" 

"After months of attacking media for 'invading' Mandela's privacy, ANC today released an invasive video of a clearly ailing and grim Mandela," tweeted journalist Geoffrey York. 

One Johannesburg radio station wrote: "The way #Madiba was paraded on SABC TV this evening was horrible! Grotesque 'journalism'. All involved should hang their heads in shame!" Mandela endured 27 years in prison before becoming the country's first black president in 1994. He has become increasingly frail over the years and has been hospitalized three times in the past five months, most recently for a lung infection in March. The ANC may have been critical of the media in the past for not respecting Mandela's privacy since his withdrawal from public life, but the party rejected any criticism of Monday's house call. "The African National Congress has noted the determined efforts by some sections of our society to degrade the visit of the National Office Bearers to Comrade Nelson Mandela," 

Party spokesman Jackson Mthembu said in a statement. Mthembu said the visit "was in line with the accepted norms of Ubuntu that we value our elderly," and the party "stands by its statements that President Mandela is in good health and in good spirits." "South Africans are called upon to appreciate that Tata is 94 years old; he will thus be frail and not as active and energetic as we all fondly remember him. There is no reason to be alarmed by the visuals of an elderly person who clearly is receiving the necessary care and attention." 

Geoffrey York countered on Twitter: "ANC misses point. Criticism was because of its political exploitation of Mandela; not because of 'fear' of the images." Another user, Siya_Ntshoko, wrote: "[T]he #ANC has no compunction about using a 94 year old frail man to canvass for votes - anything for nostalgia." The video released Monday was the first of the former leader since his birthday last July. Mandela, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, has a history of lung problems dating back to when he was a political prisoner on Robben Island during apartheid. He contracted tuberculosis during his imprisonment. He underwent treatment for a lung infection and had surgery to remove gallstones over the Christmas holiday in 2012, one of his longest hospital stays since his release from prison in 1990.

culled from CNN

Governor Fashola Builds First Suspension Bridge In Nigeria!

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde has finished building the first suspension bridge in
Nigeria. The 1.358km bridge, which will link Ikoyi (Alexander Street) to Lekki (Admiralty Way), cost about N29 billion to build and a toll will be collected to recoup the investment. 

Israel claims ‘proof’ of chemical weapons use by Assad regime!

A senior Israeli official says intelligence services have concrete proof the Syrian military has used chemical weapons against rebels.

According to the official, who remained anonymous, there is unequivocal evidence showing forces loyal to Syrian president Bashar al-Assad have engaged in chemical warfare.

“These are not intelligence estimates . . . rather proof, and even more than proof. There is substantial material about the use of chemical weapons by Assad’s army. It is known to all intelligence agencies. All intelligence elements have been updated. No one has any doubts on the matter.”

The comments were significantly more clear-cut than statements last week by Brig Gen Itai Brun, the head of the military intelligence research and analysis division, who indicated Syrian troops had used sarin nerve gas several times in the past few weeks.

US president Barack Obama has said use of chemical weapons would constitute a “game-changer”, but American officials said last week that although the Israeli assertions were probably true, concrete proof was needed.

The latest comments by the Israeli official came after the security cabinet convened for discussions on how Isreal  should respond to the crisis.

New dangers 
While Israel would welcome the fall of the Assad regime as a serious blow to the Iran-Syria-Hizbullah axis, prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu warned yesterday that Syria was “cracking”, and that new forces were rising that posed two possible dangers – “an attack from the Golan Heights and lethal weapons falling into the hands of Hizbullah and other terror groups.”

31 year old man bags 45 years in jail for stealing Governor's handset!

AN Osun State High Court Monday sentenced a 31- year-old man, Kelvin Igha Igbodalo, to 45 years imprisonment without an option of fine for stealing a Sony Ericsson phone belonging to Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola.

Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola

The 'thief' stole the governor’s mobile phone on November 27, 2010 during his inauguration ceremony at the Technical College, Osogbo.

Igbodalo, who was convicted on a six- count charge preferred against him, would, however, spend 10 years in jail, as the jail term would run concurrently.

The Guardian learnt that the convict recently concluded a six-year jail term in Ikoyi Prison in connection with a murder case.

Igbodalo had pleaded guilty to the six- count charge of conspiracy, obtaining properties by false pretence, stealing, impersonation and Advance Fee Fraud when arraigned in court.

According to the charge sheet, Kelvin and others now at large on May 24, 2011, impersonated the governor by using his phone with intent to defraud and obtain a sum of N500, 000 from his royal majesty, Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran,the Owa-Obokun of Ijesaland.

He was also accused of impersonating Aregbesola by accosting one Shenge Rahman and subsequently defrauding him of a sum of N200, 000, but nemesis caught with him while furthering the mischievous act.

The prosecution counsel Mr. Biodun Badiora had argued that the convict had committed offence contrary to section 8(c) and punishable under section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other related offences Act, 2006.

Counsel to the convict, Mr. Ameachi Ngwu prayed the court to commit the convict to community service adding that the convict should not be incarcerated but rather put where people can see him as a convict.

In his ruling, Justice Jide Falola remarked that Kelvin Igbodalo does not deserve to be let loose and continue in his dastardly act and therefore should remain where he would learn his lesson in order to serve as a deterrent to others.

He therefore ruled that Igbodalo should spend the next 45 years behind bars without an option of fine but the term would run concurrently for 10 years.

The suspect being escorted by a mobile policeman

Dutch gather in Amsterdam as royals prepare for handover!

Willem-Alexander becomes the first King of the Netherlands in more than 120 years on Tuesday when Queen Beatrix passes the crown to her eldest son.

Thousands of well-wishers gathered in Amsterdam's Dam Square early on Tuesday, waiting to see the new King and Queen when they step out on the balcony of the Royal Palace.

"He's ready, in every way," Queen Beatrix said of her 46-year-old son, a water management specialist who is expected to bring a less formal touch to the monarchy, as she bid farewell to the nation in a subdued televised address on Monday night.

April 30, or Queen's day, is always a day for partying in the Netherlands. Many people took Monday off work and started celebrating in earnest from Monday evening with street bands and music.

But this year the city of Amsterdam is putting on a special show to celebrate the investiture of Willem-Alexander and the abdication of Beatrix, 75, who wants to retire after 33 years in the job.

Amsterdam was awash with orange, the royal colour. Houses were covered in bunting and flags, shop windows were stuffed with orange cakes, sweets, clothes and flowers and many partygoers were decked out in the royal colours.

Nearly a million people were expected to join the street party with dancing to bands and DJs, helping create a carnival atmosphere.

"He (Willem-Alexander) knows what is needed. He unites people. He has made it possible for the different generations to mingle more," said 40-year old Margriet Dantuma, dressed in an orange skirt, as she joined others on the Amsterdam pavements putting out impromptu stalls of bric a brac for sale.

The royals are broadly popular, with 78 percent of Dutch in favour of the monarchy up from 74 percent a year ago, according to an Ipsos poll.

But they have been stripped of their political influence, and no longer appoint the mediator who conducts exploratory talks when forming government coalitions.

RARE TRIP BY JAPAN'S PRINCESS

     

Britain's Prince Charles and Japan's Crown Princess Masako, who is making her first foreign trip since falling ill a decade ago, will be among 2,000 visitors at the official ceremony.

"There will be tears on Tuesday," said Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, paying tribute to "this formidable lady who has ruled this country for over 30 years".

Beatrix will sign her abdication at 10:00 a.m. (0800 GMT), at which point Willem-Alexander immediately becomes king and his wife Maxima, a popular former investment banker from Argentina, becomes queen.

All three will appear on the palace balcony to wave and address the crowds in Dam Square.

They will then head from the palace to the 600-year-old Nieuwe Kerk, or New Church, next door where the king will swear an oath to uphold the Dutch constitution before lawmakers.

The Dutch monarch is never crowned, since, in the absence of a state church, there is no cleric available to carry out the coronation. But there is a crown, which will sit on a table next to him throughout the ceremony, along with other regalia that constitute the crown jewels.

Willem-Alexander will wear a royal mantle that has been used for investitures since 1815, although it has been repaired and altered at least twice over the past century, for the investitures of his mother and grandmother.

Celebrations are expected to continue through the evening with a water pageant along the IJ, Amsterdam's historic waterfront.

Carlos Slim Joins Bill Gates, Other Billionaires, With $100 Million To Fight Polio!

At the Global Vaccine Summit in Abu Dhabi late last week, the world’s two richest men made a bit of philanthropic history. Carlos Slim announced his foundation will donate $100 million to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), a Bill Gates-backed effort to eliminate polio.  It marks what appears to be the largest collaboration among the two men. It’s also the second time this year the two have announced joint philanthropic efforts.

“We are excited to join the Gates Foundation and other partners in the effort to end this disease once and for all,” Slim said in a statement. Slim attended the vaccine summit, which was co-hosted by Bill Gates.
Five other billionaires also stepped up to donate to the polio eradication effort, according to the Gates Foundation: New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, hedge fund tycoon Ray Daljo, Saudi businessman Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, investor Carl Icahn, Indonesian businessman Tahir and the foundation of the late billionaire Albert Ueltschi.


Bloomberg’s foundation is also donating $100 million; Dalio’s foundation is giving $50 million, Alwaleed’s foundation is giving $30 million, Tahir’s foundation is giving $25 million, Icahn’s Foundation for a Greater Opportunity is giving $20 million and the Albert Ueltschi Foundation is giving $10 million, according to an article in the Chronicle of Philantropy.
Polio is endemic in just three remaining countries: Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan; in 1988 it was in 128 countries. It is a vaccine-preventable disease.
Bill Gates recognized Slim in opening remarks at the summit as an important new donor in the fight against polio, according to the Gates Foundation. “We now have a comprehensive plan to end polio, but we need ti to be fully funded to succeed. Carlos’ generous commitment to support the GPEI  plan is help the world prove that setting ambitions goals leads to big victories,” Gates said in a statement.
The total cost of the plan is estimated at $5.5 billion, all but $1.5 billion of which has been pledged.
This is the second time this year that Gates and Slim have gotten together to announce a joint charitable initiative. In February, Bill Gates went to Mexico and together with Slim announced a philanthropic partnership aimed at improving agricultural research with the aim of reducing hunger. Neither man disclosed how much his foundation was spending on the effort.  In 2010, the two tycoons’ foundations partnered on a Mesoamerican health initiative aimed at improving the health of the poor in southern Mexico and Central America.
Slim has stepped up his philanthropic efforts in particular this year. In addition to the recent partnerships with Bill Gates, Slim pledged in January to support the work of the education video-focused Khan Academy by paying to translate Khan Academy instructional videos into Spanish.