And in Jakarta....Nigerian wins Muslim-only beauty pageant

    A beauty contest for Muslim women Watch

A Nigerian contestant has been crowned the winner of a beauty pageant for Muslims in Indonesia's capital, Jakarta according to Malaysians news agencies.

Obabiyi Aishah Ajibola, 21, won the World Muslimah 2013 title on Wednesday.

Twenty finalists showed off Islamic fashions and worked to demonstrate religious values during the contest.

The pageant was held before the upcoming Miss World competition, which has drawn protests from hardline Indonesian Muslim groups.

Finalists in World Muslimah were chosen from more than 500 who took part in an online selection process.

One of the rounds involved contenders comparing stories of how they came to wear the hijab (Muslim headscarf) - a requirement for all those taking part.

The finalists hailed from countries including Bangladesh, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria and Brunei.

Kenyan Mall terrorists were from UK, Finland, Kenya, Somalia, Canada and America

Shoppers run out of the mall. Photo: |AFP

Nairobi, KENYA - The group which carried out the massacre at the Nairobi mall in Kenya are mostly from Europe and America according to tweets on the Al-Shabab twitter account and as reported by Australian news website theaustralian.com/au. The tweets claim that Samantha Lewthwaite, the 'white widow' of London 7/7 bomber Jermaine Lindsay, was 'in their ranks' and a 'brave lady' - the British mother-of-four was also claimed to be one of the main financiers and bomb-making tutors for Al Shabaab in Kenya.

During the massacre on Saturday morning, the gunmen ordered all Muslims to leave before carrying out rudimentary tests to see if hostages could recite the Koran and name the mother of the Prophet Mohammed.

Terrified shoppers fled and hid in storerooms, restaurants and a cinema, with the wounded being carried out in shopping trolleys.

Shoppers who were able to prove they were Muslim were among the 1,000 who escaped unharmed, while those who failed were shot for being 'kafir', a derogatory term for non-Muslims. One man, who hid in a box of cartons, said: 'If they had found me ... I'm white and so I'm dead. They hate your skin colour.'

Shocking scene from outside the mall. Photo:AFP

The secret formula: How African countries can combat terrorism

Kenyan soldiers. Photo: Forward.com

On Saturday morning I switched on my TV to see pictures of the horrible massacre as it happened in the Nairobi shopping mall in Kenya. Today, 62 people are dead and over 200 injured.
What is this world turning into? Today, no where is safe. It is risky to walk on the streets anywhere in the world. Acts of terror are now becoming so common place that it is quite sad. Why do people have to kill others in the name of religion? Why would anyone kill innocent people in cold blood? In 2013, one would have thought that such atrocities would have been long forgotten. 
Several countries including Nigeria have fallen prey to modern style 'Jihads' by Islamic sects such as Boko Haram and failed to contain these attacks. After three days of a stand off in Kenyan, the army is still not closer to ending this awful event.

So, is Africa fully equipped to combat this new wave of terrorist attacks?
Looking at video footage from Kenyan, the nation's soldiers look under dressed  - wearing camouflaged uniforms but without head protection or bullet-proof jackets, some even using hand guns.
Arms look outdated and not one military aircraft has been seen around the site of the Kenyan attack.

How can African countries fight terrorism?
Fighting terrorism successfully means that people will be safe to move around, to walk the streets, to go shopping, to sleep in their homes, to travel around the world in safety.  Without security, economic activities can not develop, poverty escalates and people even move away.

Next steps
In order to conquer terrorism, African countries need to revise their national and international policies,  focus on the needs of their people and secure the country with highly trained security force and modernized technological gadgets - fingerprinting and photo-recognition. Countries should stop meddling in each others matters and focus on their own growth and peace. African leaders must realise that Africa is made up of thousands of different people with different cultures. They should understand that the artificial borders created by the Europeans during the colonisation era, has forcibly put different peoples together - people with different cultures, agendas and ideologies. What Africans need to do now is to learn to live together peacefully and respecting each others differences.

Peace
For peace to prevail in Africa today, people should begin to love and tolerant each other.


Keeping safe:

• be aware
• look around 
• walk away when you see suspicious activity
• pray

UKIP'S image tarnished by racism row - WATCH THIS VIDEO

What could have made a politician hit a journalist over a simple question? Why was Godfrey Bloom so worked up over the fact that there are no black faces on his party's brochure?  Is this a case of guilt? Do black people really care about UKIP? Do immigrants care what UKIP members think about them? What do you think? Let us know. Please fill in the contact form below.

Watch UKIP's Godfrey Bloom hit journalist after outburst on racism

Watch UKIP's Godfrey Bloom HIT a journalist with a conference brochure - after an outburst on racism within the party and... branding women 'sluts'

Usain Bolt to play for Manchester United

Usain Bolt the world's most famous athlete has reaffirmed his intention to play football for Manchester United when he retires from the track. The Jamaican sprint legend, champion and world record holder of the Olympic and world 100m and 200m is a well-known United fan. Talking to the BBC, he said he has his eyes set on studs.

 

Only last month Bolt appeared on the pitch before the Champions League final against Barcelona. He said really wanted to try soccer he thinks he could be a good contender. He went on "I'm really looking forward to it and yes, I definitely think I'm good enough to play for Manchester United" "I'm good enough because I'm quick, I have a little skill - I have to refine it a little bit but I should be good enough."

At 25, Bolt is still in his prime and top football clubs will be eager to take him on especially for his speed and agility.
United manager Alex Ferguson has seen him in action. The Jamaican trained with the United team in 2009 and swapped tips with Cristiano Ronaldo. So, soon you will be seeing Bolt in action as well.

How to lose 10kg in two months like Kim Kardashian

Kim showing off her new figure. Photo: Splash

Kim, weighing a whooping 88kg. Photo:Splash

Kim and Kanye's baby, North WEST. Photo: Splash

American reality TV star Kim Kardashian has shown off her new super slim waist line in the Daily Mail today. Rewind to June, just before Kim had baby, North, she was a massive 88kg. But after months of rigorous workouts with a personal trainer, Kim is now has a svelte trimmed figure. 

Here is how she did it:

1. Wake at 5 a,m, and have a glass of warm water, then, do some warm ups and stretches.
2. At 5.30, jog for thirty minutes, the, exercise on the rowing machine for another 30 minutes.
3. At 6.30, have a short break. Bath and feed baby, that would take an hour.
4. At 7.30, go back on the treadmill for another hour. Do some floor exercise for 10 minutes. 
5. Have another 20 minutes cool down exercise and some stretches.
6. Have a warm bath and then have a breakfast rich in protein and fibre. Remember to drink at least eight glasses of water daily and a little extra if you are breast feeding.

So, here is the secret! Try it and let me know if it works.

Plastic bank notes to be introduced in England...and scrapped in Nigeria?

African cowries

The top note is the polymer bank note. Photo: CNN

Going back in time. Remember cowries? They were used as a form of currency in Africa and China because they were light weigh and durable. And, do you know that the Ghanaian unit of currency known as the Ghanaian cedi was named after cowry shells?

Fast forward. In 2016, the Bank of England, one of the most powerful banks in the world is thinking of introducing plastic £5 to £50 notes to cut costs and for durability.

Australia was the first country in 1988 to use  modern polymer banknotes as currency and by 1996, the country had switched all notes completely. Many on their countries including Brunei, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Vietnam, Zambia and Canada.

In 2009, Nigeria introduced polymer notes but according to THISDAY newspaper, the Central Bank of Nigeria has decided to scarp it. Bank officials said they assumed that polymer notes would last longer than paper notes and cost less in the long-run. But they found out that the colours on the notes faded quickly.

So, when will African countries return to innovation and develop their own type of money which will be as sturdy and durable as the humble cowrie?