Visa applications for London 2012 Olympic Games begins Jan. 1

FROM January 1, 2012, the United Kingdom (UK) will begin processing visitor visas for those coming from outside the country to watch the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Press Secretary, British High Commission, Abuja, Hooman Nouruzi, said in a statement yesterday that visas would be issued with a starting date that would cover the whole Olympic and the Paralympic Games period.
“The Games would be the biggest event that the UK has hosted and many extra visitors will arrive during the busy summer period in 2012,” he stated. “We will process your application and, if you meet the requirements, will issue your visa with a start date that will cover you for the whole Olympic and Paralympic Games period’.
“This means that you can start your preparations for travelling to the UK for the Games from the beginning of 2012.”
Applicants are advised to visit http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/do-you-need-a-visa/) for a questionnaire to find out if they need to apply for a visa, and if they are coming to watch the Games as visitors, they would be allowed to stay in the UK for up to six months in most cases.
They can also see the Olympic and Paralympic Games section (http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/aboutus/our-work/olympic-paralympic/) for more information.

X Factor Host Steve Jones returning for Season 2, talks Melanie's ''Extraordinary'' Win

Rumors have been swirling that X Factor host Steve Jones might be replaced on the FOX show, but after crowning Melanie Amaro as first season champ on Thursday night, he told reporters he’s done his job—and he still wants the job!
Steve, who has been accused of oddball on-camera behavior, defended himself, saying, “I was doing my job. That’s what I was told to do and nobody’s taken me offstage at the end of the show and gone, ‘What the hell are you doing? That’s not what we asked.’ They asked me to do something and I delivered.

“[If] you want to do what you do on the biggest stage possible, you’re going to get a lot of criticism — so it doesn’t really affect me.”
And he’s eager to come back for season two, “If they’ll have me. I mean, we don’t find out until sometime in the new year. I don’t know how it all works.” He shrugged, “If they’ll have me back, I’ll do it. If they don’t, I’ll go do something else.”
When asked if the judges were mean to him, Steve laughed to reporters, “Mean to me? No. Poking me with a stick? ‘Back to your room!’ No, they love me! They’re good people. I look forward to working with them
 again.”
 Many thought Steve was too stiff and didn’t show enough personality on The X Factor. But the hunky Welshman implied he was more effective not being slick. “I’m the host. I’m there to bind it all together and hopefully guide the ship that is X Factor along. It’s not about me. A lot of people have been asking me questions — am I coming back next year? But who cares? I’m the host of the show. It’s all about Melanie and the contestants, their moment. Someone just won five million dollars, that’s extraordinary.”
Steve told reporters after finishing the season that he felt, “A sense of euphoria. I’m proud about the entire season; I’m proud of the judges, our contestants. I’m a little bit proud of myself, too.  I’m happy with it all, I really am.” And he’s “most happy with revealing to Melanie Amaro that she’s won five million dollars.”
The much-criticized host did admit, however, that it hasn’t been all roses: “It’s been a tough ride in the sense that I’ve told a lot of good people some really bad news like Rachel Crow and Drew and that was horrible. That affected me. I don’t know. Maybe I was a bit naïve going into it emotionally.
“I knew it was going to be tough but I just thought it would be professional, what’s happening, well, that’s the show but you connect with these people. I hung out with them for months on end so that was horrible but if you’ll excuse the conceit I think I deserved that little moment where I got to tell Melanie she’d won it. Her face — it was sublime.”
At the end of the show, Melanie was speechless after Steve declared her the winner. And the host said he struggled mightily to get her to open up: “I wanted to hear her say something. It’s wonderful to see her emotional and crying, but say something!”
Steve is hoping he’ll get to experience the special X Factor moments again next season—but likely won’t know his fate until after his American road trip vacation (which he starts on Jan. 8th).
[wetpaint]

Racism: John Terry to be charged over Anton Ferdinand as suarez is hit with 8-match ban and huge fine

England captain John Terry will face a charge of using racist language towards fellow footballer Anton Ferdinand during a Premier League match.

Mr Terry is alleged to have used racist language towards the 26-year-old Queens Park Rangers player during Chelsea's 1-0 defeat at Loftus Road on 23 October.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said Mr Terry was accused of a racially aggravated public order offence.
The 31-year-old vowed to clear his name and said he was "disappointed".

 Alison Saunders, chief crown prosecutor for London, said: "I have today advised the Metropolitan Police that John Terry should be prosecuted for a racially aggravated public order offence following comments allegedly made during a football match between Queen's Park Rangers and Chelsea on 23 October.

"The decision was taken in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors and, after careful consideration of all the evidence, I am satisfied there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and it is in the public interest to prosecute this case."
 The FA had put its own investigation on hold until the CPS decision was made. An FA spokesman said the organisation was considering its statement.
 Earlier in the morning and before the decision was announced, Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas said: "The only thing I know is that I will be fully supportive of John Terry, whatever the outcome.
"He has my full support, he has the club's full support.
"We know exactly his human values and personality - they are never in doubt."
Mr Terry, who has always maintained his innocence, is due before West London Magistrates' Court on 1 February.
The maximum sentence for the offence is a fine of £2,500.
As a summary offence under the Crime and Disorder Act, it will be fully heard in a magistrates' court.
......... Luis Suarez banned

Luis Suarez was given an eight-match ban for racially abusing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra, sparking a furious response by Liverpool to the FA’s ruling.

An FA statement said the 24-year-old Uruguay striker had used words that ‘included a reference to Mr Evra’s colour’ when United and Liverpool met at Anfield on October 15, which amounts to a serious breach of the governing body’s rules.
His charges:

• Explaining the decision of the commission, it added: ‘(1) Mr Suarez used insulting words towards Mr Evra during the match contrary to FA Rule E3(1); (2) the insulting words used by Mr Suarez included a reference to Mr Evra’s colour within the meaning of Rule E3(2); (3)  Mr Suarez shall be warned as to his future conduct, be suspended for 8 matches covering all first team competitive matches and fined the sum of £40,000; (4) the (penalty) is suspended pending the outcome of any appeal lodged by Mr Suarez against this decision.’

After having spent a further four days considering evidence from last week’s disciplinary hearing, the three-man Independent Regulatory Commission also fined Suarez £40,000.

Liverpool supports the racist

Liverpool were quick to condemn the verdict, attacking the FA’s process and suggesting they had decided Suarez was guilty before hearing his side of the story.

The club issued a statement shortly after the ruling was made public on the FA’s website.

It read: ‘It appears to us that the FA were determined to bring charges against Luis Suarez, even before interviewing him.’

The statement went on to call for Evra to be investigated for abusive comments directed at Suarez.

[Dailymail]

United Kingdom blacklists Nigerian universities

 According to the General Medical Council of  United Kingdom (GMC),  Medical graduates from nine universities in Nigeria will no longer be able to obtain licenses to practice in the United Kingdom, following a decision by the body to ban nine higher institutions in Nigeria.


The GMC, a body of independent regulators which registers medical doctors to practise in the UK, took the decision to bar graduates from the nine universities from writing PLAB.
PLAB is the UK exam that enables non-UK Medical graduates to undertake post-graduate medical training in the country.
The affected graduates are those who graduated after December 10, 2010 from Ambrose Ali University, Ebonyi State University, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Nnamdi Azikiwe University, University of Jos, University of Nigeria and the University of Port Harcourt.
It also applies to those who graduated on or after April 1, 2010 from Igbinedion University College of Health Sciences and the University of Benin.
According to Jason Day of the GMC's press office, the schools were axed because they no longer meet the required standards for practise in the UK.
He added that the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) had also advised that they suspend accreditation of some medical schools in the country.
“The decision only applies to students who graduated from those medical schools after the MDCN suspended their accreditation,” Day said The Educational Sector needs to be given more attention otherwise the decaying infrastructures will be a major catalyst for more brain drain in the country.

SMFH: Arik Air hostess nabbed with cocaine

A Nigerian air hostess with Arik Air, Chinwendu Uwakaonyenma Ogbonnaya, has been arrested for attempting to smuggle four kilogram of cocaine into Britain, the UK Border Agency  (UKBA) said on Monday.
The 30 year-old hostess, who arrived at the Heathrow Terminal 4 on an Arik Air flight from Lagos, was arrested on Sunday following the discovery of the drugs in an item of luggage, a spokesman for the agency disclosed.
She was charged with attempting to import a Class A substance, and was expected to appear before Uxbridge Magistrates.

"UK Border Agency officers are on constant alert, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to keep Class A drugs and other banned substances out of the UK," Marc Owen, director of UKBA operations at Heathrow, said. "We are determined to prevent this terrible trade which can have such a destructive impact on the lives of so many."
[Dailytimes]

Arab Mega rich family (owners of Manchester City FC) Splashes $3Million each on Jay Z and Kanye West to perform at daughters party

Mediatakeout reports that both Jay Z and Kanye West were each paid $3 Million to perform at Arab Billionaire daughter's 16th birthday party this weekend. The Family in question are said to be worth over $150 Billion and own the refurbished Manchester City Football Club.

 MediaTakeOut.com EXCLUSIVELY learned that Jay Z and Kanye West performed at an ARAB BILLIONAIRE daughter's sweet 16 this weekend. The two rappers were in DUBAI on Saturday, and performed a few sets - to the packed house.

So who's the chick??? Well the girl is the sister of Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan (who owns the Manchester City soccer team), and the daughter of Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the original founder of the United Arab Emirates. The Al Nahyan family is estimated to be worth more than $150 BILLION.

Dang!!!!!!!! Now that's getting paid. 

Suspected Boko Haram Gunmen Storm Airforce School in Kano...Kill Many

Armed men suspected to be terrorist of the Boko Haram sect were reported this morning to have struck in Kano State killing several soldiers at Air Force Comprehensive School, Kwa, Kano.

Details are still sketchy but sources said several military personnel were killed, and many others injured.

Armed soldiers and plain clothes security had sealed the area.

A doctor who had treated some of the injured said to his knowledge four soldiers are already feared killed.

The most telling aspect of this incident is that a neighbourhood group had began scouring the area after the incident and  on a raid of a suspicious building had found audio tapes of Mohammed Yusuf the late founder of the Boko Haram sect a strong indicator of who was behind the attack.

Story developing...

[Naijapundit]

Say What: Egyptian blogger bags two years jail term for criticizing military government

For criticizing the Egyptian armed forces and allegedly publishing false information, a political activist has bagged two years in prison.

Maikel Nabil Sanad was handed the sentence by an Egyptian military court after an appeal against a previous judgement of three years handed him by a lower court.

Sanad was arrested after posts on his blog (www.maikelnabil.com) made unfavourable comparisons between the military government and that of the former regime of President Hosni Mubarak, toppled in February by a popular uprising.

He is one of 12,000 civilians who have faced military trials this year; a practice critics say deprives the accused of their rights. Amnesty International claims Sanad is a ‘prisoner of conscience’, while the U.S. government has expressed concerns about his detention.

Over 40 die in Rivers boat mishap

No fewer than 40 persons were feared dead on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, South South Nigeria when an overloaded passenger boat carrying 47 passengers capsized and emptied its human content into the Rumuolumeni River.
The unfortunate incident, according to reports happened around 9:30 pm while the boat was travelling from high-brow Eagle Island in the state capital.The Rumuolumeni River passes through the back of the expansive premises of the Italian oil giant, the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) to Iwofe, Port Harcourt. The wooden boat was traveling between Eagle Island and Mgbuodohia community, official Chima Amadi told AFP, the boat was the only reliable means of transport to Port Harcourt because of the bad condition of roads in the area. “More than 40 passengers were on the boat,” he said.

 Seven of the passengers, including a two-year-old baby, had so far been rescued, while divers, as at press time, were still combing the river for corpses of the victims. The dead have already been given a mass burial beside the river.