Story Highlights
Saudi judge stands by decision, refuses to annul marriage of girl, 8
Girl's father arranged her marriage to a 47-year-old to settle debts, lawyer says
Appeals court declined to certify original ruling, sent case back to judge
Girl's mother says she will continue to seek daughter's divorce
By Mohammed Jamjoom
CNN
(CNN) -- A Saudi mother is expected to appeal a judge's ruling after he once again refused to let her 8-year-old daughter divorce a 47-year-old man, a relative said.
Sheikh Habib Al-Habib made the ruling Saturday in the Saudi city of Onaiza. Late last year, he rejected a petition to annul the marriage.
The case, which has drawn criticism from local and international rights groups, came to light in December when Al-Habib declined to annul the marriage on a legal technicality. His dismissal of the mother's petition sparked outrage and made headlines around the world.
The judge said the mother, who is separated from the girl's father, was not the legal guardian and therefore could not represent her daughter, the mother's lawyer, Abdullah al-Jutaili, said at the time.
The girl's husband pledged not to consummate the marriage until the girl reaches puberty, according to al-Jutaili, who added that the girl's father arranged the marriage to settle his debts with the man, who is considered "a close friend."
In March, an appeals court in the Saudi capital of Riyadh declined to certify the original ruling, in essence rejecting al-Habib's verdict, and sent the case back to al-Habib for reconsideration.
Under the Saudi legal process, the appeals court ruling meant that the marriage was still in effect, but that a challenge to the marriage was still ongoing.
The relative, who said the girl's mother will continue to pursue a divorce, told CNN the judge "stuck by his earlier verdict and insisted that the girl could petition the court for a divorce once she reached puberty."
The appeals court in Riyadh will take up the case again and a hearing is scheduled for next month, according to the relative.
Child marriages have made news in Saudi Arabia in the past year.
In a statement issued shortly after the original verdict, the Society of Defending Women's Rights in Saudi Arabia said the judge's decision went against children's "basic rights."
Marrying children makes them "lose their sense of security and safety," the group said. "Also, it destroys their feeling of being loved and nurtured. It causes them a lifetime of psychological problems and severe depression."
Zuhair al-Harithi, a spokesman for the Saudi Human Rights Commission, a government-run group, told CNN that his organization was fighting child marriages.
"Child marriages violate international agreements that have been signed by Saudi Arabia and should not be allowed," al-Harithi said.
Child marriage is not unusual, said Christoph Wilcke, a Saudi Arabian researcher for the international group Human Rights Watch, after the initial verdict.
"We've been hearing about these types of cases once every four or five months because the Saudi public is now able to express this kind of anger, especially so when girls are traded off to older men," Wilcke told CNN.
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My name is Carlotta Ikedi, better known as Feddie Girl. I am the major character in the FEDDIE GIRL novel by Nona David.I was born and bred in San Francisco, California, USA, where I spent the first twelve years of my life. Right after my twelfth birthday, my parents thought it would be a good idea to relocate to Owasso, Oklohoma. Dumb, right? I thought so too. Anyways, I spent several months in Oklahoma–and hating every minute of it–before I was shipped-off to boarding school in Nigeria“Why Nigeria?” you ask? Well, that story will be for another day! Lol!This blog site is about me and my readers. Basically, this is where you can interact and learn more about me. I will also be featuring short stories about my experiences and adventures in a Nigerian boarding school. Lol!To learn more about the FEDDIE GIRL novel, visit my publishers site.You can also join my fan page on Facebook!Hope you’re ready to rock with me. Okay, let’s have fun!Lotta luv,Carlotta
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A build of Windows 7 which possibly be the official release candidate (RC) for Windows 7 has been leaked to Internet, although currently available for 32-bit (x86) edition only. Word is that Windows 7 build 7105 will be released as the Windows 7 RC, which is not just the escrow, but the final RC build. And there is high chance that Windows 7 Build 7077 will be rebrand and re-tag as Windows 7 Build 7105 to release as the release candidate for marketing purpose.Apparently, the version or build number of some components of Windows 7 Build 7077 has been appended with win7rc keyword, making the full string of winmain.win7rc.090404-1255. Previously, in build such as 7068, only winmain with major and minor build milestone is attached.Windows 7 Build 7077 has the build number of 7077.0.090404-1255, which means it’s been code dropped on April 4, 2009. If the rumor that Windows 7 build 7077 will be rebranded as 7105 is true, the official Windows 7 Release Candidate will be 7015.0.090404-1255. However, there is rumor that the final RC of Windows 7 will have the file name of 6.1.7105.0.090404-1235_x86fre_client_en-us_Retail_Ultimate-GB1CULFRER_EN_DVD, with build version 6.1.7105.0.090404-1235, slightly different from the leaked build 7077.Details of 32-bit (x86) Windows 7 Build 7077File Name: 7077.0.090404-1255_x86fre_client_en-us_Retail_Ultimate-GRC1CULFRER_EN_DVD.isoMD5: bdcb388daffad32d6264144c05b29700SHA1: 6b4d676257c57607b951a101c7b2c559cd7a5730CRC32: bfe066d4File Size: 2,530,869,248Download Torrent for Windows 7 Build 7077: 7077.0.090404-1255_x86fre_client_en-us_Retail_Ultimate-GRC1CULFRER_EN_DVD.iso.torrent (mininova mirror)Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC1) is expected to be officially released to public in May 2009.
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Sitting in the dark tonightAlone in my corner of the worldI can't see the lightI want to be your girlOr do I? I don't know...I really have no clueI feel like I have no where to goBecause I'm so in love with youMiles separate usAnd so I thought I didn't have to yearnI thought I could escape the lustGod, I have so much to learnI've been living a lieI wish I was yours, stillI pretended I haven't wished that, by and byBut in my heart I know I always willI can't come out and tellHow I dream about you every nightMy life seems like a living hellBecause without you it isn't rightI want to just call you mineAnd let you hold me closeBut I've got to give this timeI want your love the mostYou seem so angry sometimesAnd I wish I could kiss it awayBut to my morals that would be a crimeYet I wish it every dayIt seems like you are so distantI want to tell you how I feelBut it's impossible, I can'tYou wouldn't take me for realSo I sit here in the darkQuiet but screaming insideOn my heart you've left your markMy heart backs down to my prideSomeday I'll let you knowThat I hold this secret withinBut now I'll let our friendship growThen with that we can beginTonight I'll simply dreamThat you are mine to beI'll smile at us as a teamThen wake to realityWhere nothing is going wellWhere I'm lonely without youI caught you when you fellNow I fall... what do you do?E-mail this Poem
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Why is it I feel like I do?Why is it every spare moment i haveis filled with the thought of looking in your eyes?Only someone who has felt what i feel for you,Only someone who has spent moments in time with you,Captivated by who you are, in awe of your spirit as I am,Only they could possibly know how and why i feel as I do.I know in my heart no other person has ever had just a fractionof the love,respect and longing i feel for you,So i tell you now,There is no other who could answer such questions,There is no other who could feel as I do.You came in to my life when i was lost,Wandering the web, evenings out,Searching for something I craved for,But couldn't quite understand.You suddenly filled my life with colour,with light,With new and incredible feelings of warmth, calmand such unsurpassed electric sexual chemistry.We are both travellers on this forbidden road,Journeying together,crossing each hurdle as wecome across them, savouring each moment.I now that long ago we promised ourselves to others,That we will never be more than we are now,Spending brief but so wonderful stolen moments floatingon our cloud.Our love is forbidden,so wrong to others,Yet makes our lives complete and whole.I know you have a very lucky man,He has you and I hope you will alwaysbe loved as you deserve.You have so much and I promise you,It will always be safe,It will never be anything but secure,Our love remaining as it must,Secret,hidden within our hearts.But I hear myself say,They are lucky, so very lucky.Promise me this,when such a day comes whereour hearts must part,Once the tears have dried andyour spirit 'so' once more,You will sit back,close your eyes,touch your heartand know that although we are no longer together,I am always there, so very close,That you need only dream for a a momentto loose yourself in all the wonderful, magicaland lasting memories we have made together.I love you so much Her,Why do i feel this way?I now know why,Because ive totally lost my heart to youand whatever happens in the future,I know you will always carry a part of me with you.
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my pale face is getting olderwrinkles hugging my chocolate brown eyesi close them so i can see youmy heart crying out for you wondering whymidnight sky and prayers to my Godwhom i adore and believe allowed me to seethat i was hidden until i met youmy authentic self sleeping deep inside of meawakening by your friendship which for me turned into deep loveyet to you this was only evil and i was to be made extinct no longer able to give you my hugsthis longing for you my beloved remainsalthough i am dating and open to new lovebut it is you who i want to share my life withthe only way to do so is by sharing the stars abovei like white light in the distancefire balls those stars are you seeand they are far away so we cannot hurt themand they allow for our eyes to seegentleness and shimmering water by the lakegreen lake where i spent time with you my lovei sure wish you would have chosen to be with mefor now under the stars has to be enough
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The days are niceThe sun shines brightBut there is no light without youFlowers bloomLeaves grow on treesBut there is no color without youBirds singRivers runBut there is no sound without youPeople laughChildren playBut all is sad without youTime goes onDay turns to nightBut life stands still without youPeople meetHopes expressedBut there are no feelings without youAdventures livedExperience gainedBut there is no meaning without youWork is doneTime's put inBut there is no value without youPrayers are saidGod is beggedBut still I am without youWhen all is saidThis life I dreadEvery day without you
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For the first time in a long time,I felt so happy, so rejoicedYou came to me when I was in dire need of a shoulder.You showed me there was hope after tragedy.You became my bestfriend.The times we laughed and the times we sharedWere priceless beyond anything I could imagineWe never knew the meaning of uncertainty and difficultyI showed you what it was like to be a fool, a good foolAnd in return, you taught me new ways of lifeThe more we connected, the more we grew as people, friends and partnersYou made me feel like I could trust and love againWords uttered out of your mouth that made me feel safe and wanted"Love is not a strong enough word to describe how I feel. I adore you really"I was caught.My problems were yours as yours were mineBlooming into something so deep, something so specialWe were blinded by nothing but each otherThe hours turned to days and days turned to monthsPromises were never broken and feelings seem to flourishThis was real. So I thought...Just as everything was going so wellThe distance began to win our battle of being togetherDrifting apart, we dedicated ourselves to making this workWe tried and tried. And just as everything was returning to they way they wereLove, devotion, and adorementYou vanished into thin air as if you were just a dreamTo this day, my mind wonders how could something so strong be defeated so easilyNo words could express the confusion, the doubt, the feeling of foolishnessThat runs through me as time goes by with an answer of Why?The last question left unanswered:Were you real or were you just one of my needs?That is something that needs to be answeredOne day, one lifetimeVery soonI promise!
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Years ago, a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast.He constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people werereluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic . They dreaded theAwful storms that raged across the Atlantic ,Wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops.As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he receivedA steady stream of refusals.Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, approachedthe farmer. 'Are you a good farm hand?' the farmer asked him.'Well, I can sleep when the wind blows,' answered the little man.Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help,Hired him. The little man worked well around the farm, busy fromdawn to dusk, and the farmer felt satisfied with the man's work.Then one night the wind howled loudly in from offshore.Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushednext door to the hired hand's sleeping quarters. He shook thelittle man and yelled, 'Get up! A storm is coming!Tie things down before they blow away!'The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, 'Nosir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows.'Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him onthe spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm.To his amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks hadbeen covered with tarpaulins.The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and the doors were barred.The shutters were tightly secured. Everything was tied down.Nothing could blow away. The farmer then understood what hishired hand meant, so he returned to his bed to also sleep whileThe wind blew.When you're prepared, spiritually, mentally, and physically,you have nothing to fear. Can you sleep when theWind blows through your life?The hired hand in the story was able to sleep because heHad secured the farm against the storm.We secure ourselves against the storms of life byGrounding ourselves in the Word of God.We don't need to understand, we just need to holdHis hand to have peace in the middle of storms.Someone dear to me sent this to me today,And I enjoyed it so much, that I wanted to you.I hope you enjoy your day and you sleep well.May God bless you!Thank You
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MONTPELIER, Vt. – Vermont on Tuesday became the fourth state to legalize gay marriage — and the first to do so with a legislature's vote.The House recorded a dramatic 100-49 vote — the minimum needed — to override Gov. Jim Douglas' veto. Its vote followed a much easier override vote in the Senate, which rebuffed the Republican governor with a vote of 23-5.Vermont was the first state to legalize civil unions for same-sex couples and joins Connecticut, Massachusetts and Iowa in giving gays the right to marry. Their approval of gay marriage came from the courts.Tuesday morning's legislative action came less than a day after Douglas issued a veto message saying the bill would not improve the lot of gay and lesbian couples because it still would not provide them rights under federal and other states' laws.House Speaker Shap Smith's announcement of the vote brought an outburst of jubilation from some of the hundreds packed into the gallery and the lobby outside the House chamber, despite the speaker's admonishment against such displays.Among the celebrants in the lobby were former Rep. Robert Dostis, D-Waterbury, and his longtime partner, Chuck Kletecka. Dostis recalled efforts to expand gay rights dating to an anti-discrimination law passed in 1992."It's been a very long battle. It's been almost 20 years to get to this point," Dostis said. "I think finally, most people in Vermont understand that we're a couple like any other couple. We're as good and as bad as any other group of people. And now I think we have a chance to prove ourselves here on forward that we're good members of our community."Dostis said he and Kletecka will celebrate their 25th year together in September."Is that a proposal?" Kletecka asked."Yeah," Dostis replied. "Twenty-five years together, I think it's time we finally got married."Craig Bensen, a gay marriage opponent who had lobbied unsuccessfully for a nonbinding referendum on the question, said he was disappointed but believed gay marriage opponents were outspent by supporters by a 20-1 margin."The other side had a highly funded, extremely well-oiled machine with all the political leadership except the governor pushing to make this happen," he said. "The fact that it came down to this tight a vote is really astounding."Also in the crowd was Michael Feiner, a farmer from Roxbury and gay marriage supporter, who took a break from collecting sap for maple syrup-making to come to the Statehouse."I'm taking a break to come and basically make sure that I was here to witness history," he said.The House had initially passed the bill last week with a 95-52 vote.
ABUJA - The embattled National Coordinator of Police Equipment Foundation (PEF) Kenny Martins has again come under the searchlight of the Police authorities as he has been declared wanted over his involvement in a case of $97.5Million scandal involving a US based Security Company [Calvary Security Group].Also wanted by the police is the Managing Director of National Deposit Insurance Cooperation [NDIC] Mr. Ganiyu Ogunleye who was later arrested by the Police over his involvement in the controversial waiver of a N500m on the sale of Karu International Market in Nasarawa State .Police in a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu at the weekend said the declaration of Kenny Martins is “Sequel to the request by Inspector General of Police to the Senior Magistrate Court , Wuse Abuja, which consequently granted the application that necessitated declaring Chief Kenny Martins wanted”.Chief Martins, however, will be recalled, is the National Coordinator of Police Equipment Foundation the position that he has been using to defraud unsuspecting corporate organizations and individuals in the name of the organization.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently had directed the Inspector General of Police to arrest Chief Martins over an alleged fraud of $97.5m involving Calvary Security Group based in US.The Police also appealed to the public, corporate organizations and individuals who have useful information leading to the arrest of Chief Kenny Martins to report to the nearest police station or its Special Fraud Unit.According to Police, the arrest and detention of NDIC MD Ganiyu Ogunleye was sequel to a follow-up to Senate Public hearing in January this year on distressed Fortune Bank.The MD was involved in a controversial waiver of N500Million over the sale of Karu International Market by Nasarawa State Government.The Police further said it is poised at investigating the role, circumstances and the level of involvement of NDIC and any other Agency, group or persons in the controversial waiver.
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ABUJA-The House of Representatives weekend condemned the murder of a Nigerian Evelyn Uche by her Belgian husband Wim Vanacker.It however called on the Belgian police to commence immediate investigation into the matter.A statement issued by Chairman House Committee on Diaspora, Abike Dabiri stated “ The attention of the House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora has been drawn to the recent murder of a Nigerian woman, Evelyn Uche Amarin by her Belgian husband Mr. Wim Vanacker in their Berendene home, Belguim on Monday, 2 March, 2009 by strangling her to death with his bare hands, in a most inhuman, callous and brutish manner”,.While expressing grief over” the untimely death of this mother of the Committee condemns in unequivocal terms the killing of this woman, and several acts of indignity against Nigerians by some foreigners in their host countries and noted with dismay the prevalence of domestic violence against women by men”. Dabiri in the news bulletin called on international organisations and well- meaning citizens of the world to rise up in one voice against the rampant abuse of human rights, especially the rights of women by their male counterparts as a demonstration of solidarity and in compliance with all known laws against human and women rights across the globe.However, the Committee urged all Nigerians in diaspora to live responsibly wherever they may reside, imploring the Nigerian Foreign Missions, international community and law enforcement agencies to frontally wage war against all forms of human right abuse against other citizens of the world, irrespective of colour, creed or race.Source : Nigerian observer
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ABUJA-The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has paraded 20 men arrested in connection with trafficking in persons.It said it would hand over the suspects to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for prosecution.Mr Ekpedeme King, Public Relations Officer of the NIS, told journalists at a news conference that the suspects plied their illegal trade from Nigeria to Niger Republic and across the desert to Europe.He said that NIS officers in Kano arrested the suspects who are Nigerians and Cameroonians between Friday, March 27 and Sunday, March 29.According to him, the syndicate consists of transporters and drivers from Edo State to persons who act as agents of human traffickers at two principal motor parks in Kano, the Unguwa Uku and Kofar Ruwa Motor Parks.“The victims, usually from the southern part of the country and Cameroon, are transported through two principal transport companies.“The victims are transported to Kano along with regular passengers and often disembark at Kwanar Dangora or at designated points before the Unguwa Uku Motor Park“The principal link of the traffickers at Unguwa Uku, one Nasiru Mai Nasara, popularly known as ``Smally’’, is the agent of the ring master, one Alhaji Marwa, a Nigerien,’’ King said.He said that the 22-year old “Smally’’, who is the principal collector of victims from the transport companies, charged N2,250 per victim.“Friday Agazuma, a 40-year-old Nigerian, is a driver in one of the companies used to transport victims from Edo to Kano State.“Agazuma confessed that on one occasion, Alhaji Marwa paid him N12,000 for delivering three victims.Source: nigerian Observer
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Monday, April 6, 2009•Photo: pls see Sun News Publishing also on above date.Looking at him, all seems well. He is handsome, tender and perfectly weighted. But this four-month old yet-to-be-christened baby is living with a split images. He is straddling between the two sexes and has ended up neither a boy nor a girl. No, he’s not a victim of one of those inexplicable cruelties of nature.His mother had allegedly sliced off his external genital shortly after birth, leaving bemused sympathizers wondering whether what used to be there was a male or female organ.His scrotum, testes and penis were carefully scrapped off leaving a bare surface with sore, covered in a pool of clotted blood. He wriggles in wide and unimaginable pains, as his two legs were permanently placed wide apart.But for medical doctors who later described him as a boy, it would have been hard figuring out his true sex. Doctors had explained that since his urine runs in the upward direction when he urinates, it’s only logical to believe he is a boy.He laid helplessly on one of the beds at the Wuse General Hospital, Abuja. Life couldn’t have been more gruesome.The tragic story started from Kogi State where his mother, simply identified as Eleh is said to be a known lunatic. The Igala-born mother who seems to be in her late teens is said to have been delivered of two pregnancies some years back by some unidentified persons.With her lipstick-red glossy lips and her equally pierced nose decorated with a stud, Eleh could hardly pass for a mentally deranged woman. The only thing that gave her away as being emotionally unstable is her bout of unprovoked momentary laughter and the fact that she is overly aggressive.She had been taken off the streets by her relatives when it was noticed that she was pregnant for the third time for yet an identified man. The burden of taking care of her soon overwhelmed them and she was allowed back into the streets where she had her baby.But one day in March, the residents of Adankolo area of Kogi State woke up to the persistent cries of a baby in an uncompleted story building. Not able to bear it any longer, the curious tenants decided to find out what was going on. What they saw numbed and shocked many. A young mother was trying to breast feed a baby who has had his genital organ totally cut off and in a pool of his own blood. Because the young girl is known in the area as deranged and many had seen her pregnant, the social welfare people were quickly alerted and they took charge.But this was short-lived as Eleh soon escaped with the infant from the hospital they were being taken care of. It was on her way to Abuja that she was apprehended by the authorities.But the question is who has performed this crude surgery on the innocent baby? The suspicion raised by some members of the public is as a result of the neatness of the procedure. Could it have been done by someone suffering from mental illness or a ritualist? Why did Eleh decide to run with her child from Kogi to Abuja? How did she get the transport money to have embarked on the trip? These are all questions that are still waiting for answers while she is being rehabilitated in a social welfare facility in Abuja.“The difficulty in trying to cross-exam a supposedly mentally challenged woman can be daunting”, laments a police detective who does not want to be named.“Eleh does not reply to questions and stares at you with a mean mien that is very scary,” says a counselor in the Social Welfare Service department in Abuja after she was transferred there by the FCT police command after a fruitless investigation to ascertain whether she is actually the culprit.“She had at a time said she, Eleh, knew that her child was a girl. Though her statements are incoherent, she would not answer you if you ask her any questions, but could suddenly reply you if you are talking to another person,” the counsellor explains.According to Dr. Tayo Daramola, a psychologist at the Wuse General Hospital, “the statement proves that she could have envisaged the baby as a girl and thought that the genitals were a distraction.”So pathetic is the case that the Commissioner for Women Affairs in Kogi State, Mrs. Ruth Iyaji, is keeping a close watch on the matter.The baby is at present being “protected” in an undisclosed orphanage in the FCT.The Chairman of Wuse General Hospital Board, Dr. Gbenga Bello, told Daily Sun that, the little boy is responding to treatment and is doing well. “But one thing is for sure, there can be no replacement to the genitals that have been taken from him,” he said matter-of-factly.
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Subject: 3 year old girl & 9-month-old baby.Last week a 3 year old girl in South Africa was beaten and raped. She is still alive. The man responsible was released on bail yesterday. He is walking the streets.It is an essential part of the justice system for children. You may have already heard that there's a myth in South Africa OTHER AFRICAN COUNTRYS that with a virgin will cure AIDS .. The younger the virgin, the more potent the cure. This has led to an epidemic of rapes by infected males, with the correspondent infection of innocent kids. Many have died in these cruel rapes. Recently in Cape Town , a 9-month-old baby was raped by 6 men .. Please think about that for a moment. The child abuse situation is now reaching catastrophic proportions and if we don't do something, then who will?Kindly pass this on to as many people as you know.Please don't be complacent, do something about the kids of South Africa and other African countrys,ensure that it goes to as many people as possibl.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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6.1.7105.0.winmain.090404-1235 -new milestone« on: Today at 02:56:07 AM »Year: 2009Version: 6.1.7105.0.090404-1235_x86fre_client_en-us_Retail_Ultimate-GB1CULFRER_EN_DVDBuild: 04.04.2009Language: English onlyFile size: 2.58System requirements:1 GHz 32-bit or 64-bit processor1 GB of RAM16 GB free hard disk space128 MB video card that supports DirectX 9Description:Windows 7 (formerly known under the code name Blackcomb and Vienna) - the name of the new operating systems Windows, follow-up for Windows Vista, which is expected to be launched in the 2009-2010 biennium.In the Windows 7 will include some of the development, removed from Windows Vista as well as improvements in the interface and embedded software. Windows 7 should be a new step in the development of operating systems, Microsoft.keys:6JKV2-QPB8H-RQ893-FW7TM-PBJ73TQ32R-WFBDM-GFHD2-QGVMH-3P9GCGG4MQ-MGK72-HVXFW-KHCRF-KW6KY4HJRK-X6Q28-HWRFY-WDYHJ-K8HDHQXV7B-K78W2-QGPR6-9FWH9-KGMM7Changelog:1. Improved networking support, the work in the local network2. Added support for some previously incompatible programs3. Extras in the LP and small cosmetic interface improvements4. Added support for new drivers for various devices5. Extended support sensory displays6. A small optimization and changes in the nucleusDownload | Download Microsoft Windows 7 Build 7105 Ultimate x86 32bit Milestone build eng
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LAGOS, April 5 (Reuters) - The U.S. Embassy in Nigeria warned on Sunday of a possible attack against diplomatic missions in Lagos, the commercial capital of Africa's biggest oil producer.
In a message to U.S. citizens living in Nigeria, the embassy said it had received reports of a possible strike against missions located close to the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos, situated in the exclusive Victoria Island neighbourhood.
"U.S. Mission Nigeria has received reports about a possible attacks against diplomatic missions in Lagos located on Walter Carrington Crescent," the message said.
Nigerian police increased their vigilance in the neighbourhood and called on U.S. citizens to report any suspicious activity.
Nigeria is the world's eighth biggest exporter of crude oil which supplies the United States and China.
Militants in the southern Niger Delta, the heartland of its oil industry, have carried out regular strikes against installations belonging to oil giants including U.S. firms.
The main militant group in the region, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), dissociated itself from the threat.
"Our struggle is a just one and our enemies are not the good people of America," it said in a statement.
The U.S. embassy message gave no details of the nature of the reports it had received regarding the possible attack in Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation divided roughly equally between Christians and Muslims.
But it said that U.S. government facilities worldwide remained in a state of heightened alert because of the threat of violence against Americans and U.S. interests.
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US President Barack Obama pledged Sunday to lead a quest for a world purged of nuclear weapons, denouncing "fatalism" over proliferation and calling for North Korea to be punished for its rocket launch.Warning the prospect of a nuclear-armed terrorist was the "most immediate and extreme threat to global security" Obama unveiled a plan to cut stockpiles, curtail testing, choke fissile production and secure loose nuclear material."As the only nuclear power to have used a nuclear weapon, the United States has a moral responsibility to act," Obama said in a keynote speech in Prague. "We cannot succeed in this endeavour alone, but we can lead it."So today, I state clearly and with conviction America's commitment and desire to seek the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons," he said in a warmly received speech to 30,000 people at picturesque Prague Castle.Obama, in town for an EU-US summit, said he wanted an immediate end to nuclear tests, confirmed he would seek Senate approval of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and would hold a global summit on nuclear security within the next year."I am not naive, this goal (of a nuclear free world) will not be reached quickly, perhaps not in my lifetime," he added, branding nuclear weapons stockpiles as the most dangerous legacy of the Cold War.Doing nothing to stop the spread of nuclear weapons would be to cede to a "deadly adversary" of fatalism, he warned."One nuclear weapon exploded in one city -- be it New York or Moscow, Islamabad or Mumbai, Tokyo or Tel Aviv, Paris or Prague -- could kill hundreds of thousands of people," he said.The euphoric mood in Prague, which saw late-night revellers mingling with young Obama fans, contrasted with the president's sombre tone, a message lent more poignancy by North Korea's rocket launch over Japan.Obama said Pyongyang must pay a price and called for a strong international response at an emergency UN Security Council meeting."Rules must be binding, violations must be punished, words must mean something," he said."This provocation underscores the need for action -- not just this afternoon at the UN Security Council, but in our determination to prevent the spread of these weapons," Obama said.The US president also vowed to move forward with a controversial plan to base a missile defence shield in central Europe which has upset Moscow, saying the threat posed by Iran remained real."Let me be clear: Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile activity poses a real threat, not just to the United States, but to Iran's neighbours and our allies," Obama said."The Czech Republic and Poland have been courageous in agreeing to host a defence against these missiles. As long as the threat from Iran persists, we intend to go forward with a missile defence system that is cost-effective and proven."The shield was officially devised by former president George W. Bush to defend against long-range ballistic missiles possibly fired by "rogue states" such as Iran, but Moscow views it as a threat to Russian security.Later, Obama headed to the EU-US summit, and an area of contention arose with France's President Nicolas Sarkozy.Hours before he flew to Ankara, Obama backed mainly Muslim Turkey's bid to join the EU.Its entry to the bloc would be "an important signal" which would "firmly anchor" Turkey in Europe, Obama told EU leaders.But Sarkozy told French television it was the EU that got to decide who joins and said he had "always been opposed" to Turkey's membership.Obama also met with Czech President Vaclav Klaus and Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek who caused a stir last month by saying US economic plans were paving "the road to hell".Before flying out to Turkey at around 6:00 pm (1600 GMT), Obama held a lengthy meeting with the revered former Czech president Vaclav Havel who warned him of the dangers of rising expectations."There is a danger that people may end up thinking that he has betrayed them, that he raised their hopes too far," said Havel.
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Mum stones 3-month-old baby to death• After catching hubby with condomIt sounds like a fairy tale, but it happened. A middle-aged woman yesterday allowed the animal instincts in her to control her actions, as she stoned her three-month-old baby to death after catching her husband with a packet of condoms.The incident occurred at Ogwashi-Uku in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State.Already the suspect, Marian Amachie, is being quizzed by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the state police command, Asaba.She was said to have been transferred from the Police Divisional Headquarters Ogwashi-Uku to the state Headquarters Asaba, two hours after her arrest following threats of retaliation by youths.Trouble started when a disagreement broke out between Christian Amechie, a primary school teacher and his wife, Marian, a petty trader, over the inability of the man to meet the challenges of family up-keep.The woman, now in the police custody, was said to have attributed the act to waywardness and laziness of her husband.Mrs. Amachie listed the sins of her husband to include failure to provide feeding allowance, payment of house rent, school fees and clothing for their four children.The woman was said to have been given some clothes to wash by the husband.While taking the clothes for washing, a packet of condom was said to have dropped from one of the pockets of the husband’s trousers.Obviously unable to control her anger, the woman was said to have made straight to the husband who was preparing for work.Tempers reportedly rose between them and resulted in a physical combat. A reliable source told Daily Champion: "The woman reportedly dragged out the child she was carrying on her back and stoned her. All efforts to revive the child could not yield any positive result as the child had given up the ghost. The other kids could however not help because of their ages."Delta State Police Public Relation Officer, ASP Charles Muka said investigation into the ugly incident had commenced
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China's Africa Initiative and American Response
By Rahul K Bhonsle
China's vigorous ingress into Africa has once again caught attention of the World. Chinese goals in making forays into Africa are said to be four fold as follows:-
- China will forge friendship, maintain close political dialogue, coordination and increase mutual understanding and trust with Africa, Hu said.
- China will deepen cooperation and expand economic and technological exchanges to achieve mutual benefit and win-win progress.
- China will strengthen dialogue and exchanges between the Chinese and African civilizations and make common progress through mutual learning and enrichment.
- China and Africa will treat each other as equals and strengthen cooperation in international affairs to uphold the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries.
Zambia is one of the key states visited by Chinese President Hu Jintao in March 2007. Wall Street Journal reported extensive protests in the country during the visit. While the leaders of African states are grateful to receive Chinese assistance which comes in large doles and at best ensures their security in the seat of power, the impact is hardly seen to reach the common man. The Chinese are increasingly seen exploitative by the African masses. That Chinese role is not universally appreciated in Africa is also evident with Michael Sata a presidential candidate in Zambia campaigning on the basis of anti Chinese policies. Sata's party is reported to be gaining considerable support in Zambia.
While China sees itself as an alternative to American and European domination of Africa over the ages, detractors of Beijing see this as an attempt to replace one form of colonialism with another. China's needs for raw materials are seen as the primary driver of China's Africa policy. Sino African trade is likely to touch $ 50 billion by 2010 as reported in the Wall Street Journal. A notable issue is diversification of sources for oil. China is now seeing supplies flowing from Sudan and Nigeria as well as Angola which has emerged as china's main source of supply replacing Saudi Arabia. China is launching a satellite for Nigeria. That Nigeria is an oil rich state is not merely coincidental.
China draws copper from Zambia. Chinese discrimination in Zambia was obvious with the below minimum wages provided to the factory workers of the NFC Africa Mining PLC and ban on union activity. Cheap explosives were also being manufactured for use in the Zambian mining industry. In April 2005 this led to a blast in which 46 Zambian employees were killed. Absence of Union oversight emerged as one of the key issues.
China is also accused of indulging the leadership in troubled Sudan where the regime has been consistently ignoring the pleas for deployment of UN forces in the troubled Western province of Darfur where over 200,000 people are reported killed in violence between the nomadic Arab militias and the African settlers. During the visit of President Hu Jintao, a large crowd is reported to have welcomed him at Sudan's capital Khartoum. Sudan's energy exports are mostly to China. With an oil production capability of 330,000 barrels per day, it is expected to be a major supplier to Beijing. China has also been charged with providing arms to Sudan which are being used to suppress the rebellion in Darfur in the West with a heavy hand.
The only nation which can balance Chinese presence in Africa is the United States. Presence of American business is now to be supplemented by the military. The United States is forming a new Africa Command. The command will be operational by September 2008. A decision on location of HQs is pending. The aim of raising the new Command is said to be to build security cooperation and capability. War fighting was not designated as a principal objective. US officials specifically stated that, Africa Command or AFRICOM was not being created as a, " response to a Chinese presence on the continent, it was not being stood up solely for the effort of enhanced counterterrorism, and it was not being stood up in order to secure resources, of particular sensitivity to the oil resources". If security cooperation and capability building are the main intents of the United States Command, there is also a need to forthrightly address the Chinese ingress in an area which has endemic poverty, instability and disease. What is the US strategy to meet these challenges? The world is waiting?
Rahul K Bhonsle is a veteran soldier and security analyst based in South Asia, specializing in strategic risk prediction, future warfare and human security. His web site is www.security-risks.com and can be contacted at rkbhonsle@gmail.com
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