100-year-old woman goes to jail

A 100-year-old woman was jailed in the central Kenyan town of Embu, for a three-month sentence for illegal appropriation of land.

This sparked off a campaign on social media platforms calling for her release, as hundreds of users from social networks showed their solidarity with the campaign by sharing the hashtag, #SaveJailed100yrGranny.

The old woman was jailed on March 10 for failing to implement a court order requiring her to give away two hectares (just under five acres) of land to an individual who filed a claim that she had illegally taken the plot.

After spending nine days in jail, a Nairobi county senator, Mike Sonko, paid a bail of 100,000 shillings (just over $1,000) to secure the release of the elderly woman, who was able to leave the prison on Thursday, said the Daily Nation newspaper.

The Sonko Rescue Team, a group of volunteers who work under the senator for community service in Nairobi, will perform a complete medical checkup on the woman to ensure that she is stable.

Imprisoning a woman of her age was described as "immoral" and "embarrassing" by many Kenyans on various Twitter accounts.

'World's ugliest woman' takes a stand as anti-bullying activist

Activist Lizzie Velasquez poses for a portrait for A Brave Heart: 
The Lizzie Velasquez Story. Photo / Getty Images Portraits

Lizzie Velasquez went through the torment of being mocked by bullies from around the world and survived to tell her story

At the age of 17, while surfing the web, she came across a video of herself on YouTube that labelled her as the 'world's ugliest woman'. it was a devastating experience for her.

But now 26, the inspirational woman has hit back at her tormentors with an anti-bullying documentary about her life, describing her battle with a rare condition which stops her from putting on weight.

'A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velasquez Story' premiers at the South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas, today.

The 78-minute film charts Lizzie's inspiring path from cyber-bullying victim to anti-bullying activist.

Featuring details of Lizzie's emotional and physical journey through the years, it follows her progress as she attempts to lobby the US government for the first federal anti-bullying Bill.

She was born with Marfan syndrome and lipodystrophy, which is a problem with the way fat is distributed in the body.

At only 5ft 2ins tall, Lizzie only weighs 58lbs - just over four stone.

"All we had known all my life was that I had a syndrome which meant that I couldn't GAIN WEIGHT.

Lizzie Velasquez, aged 3. Lizzie, now 26, has a rare and
 undiagnosed syndrome that prevents her from putting on weight. Photo / Barcroft Media

"At the time, I thought everyone looked like me. I didn't recognise or tell that they didn't look like me."

First bullied as a child in school for looking different, she was horrified to stumble across a YouTube video labeling her 'The World's Ugliest Woman' as a teenager.

She fought back by giving a TED Talk in 2013 which she says "changed everything".

"This is my purpose. This is what I'm meant to do for the rest of my life.

"I like to think that I'm not only telling my story, I'm telling everyone's story."

Now, Lizzie's own YouTube channel, which boasts more than 300,000 subscribers.

Speaking in a video posted to her channel ahead of her documentary's showing today, she said: 'I'm so excited, I can't even tell you.

"I finally was able to sleep and I'm feeling rested and ready to go."

First Penis Transplant sucessful and Functional

The world's first successful penis transplant has been reported by a surgical team in South Africa.

The patient was an unidentified 21 year old, who lost his penis in a botched circumcision. . The penis was amputated about three years before the transplant. As a rite of passage, many males in South Africa undergo circumcisions when they are about 18.

Penis amputation presents many urinary health risks and eliminates normal reproductive capabilities. About 250 amputations occur each year, with many victims committing suicide after the amputation due to social pressures.

The patient was the recipient of a nine-hour operation done to attach the penis of a donor. This procedure was attempted once before in China, and was unsuccessful. The surgical team was led by Andre Van der Merwe MD. Dr. Van der Werwe was pleased with the outcome.

Doctors in Cape Town said the operation was a success and the patient was happy and healthy.

Elderly nun gang raped in a convent by bandits

Christians in the capital, Delhi, have held protests,
accusing the government of failing to protect them

A group of bandits gang raped an elderly nun on Saturday when she attempted to stop them from robbing a Christian missionary school in eastern India, police said.

The nun, who is in her 70s, was hospitalized in serious condition after being attacked by seven or eight men at the Convent of Jesus and Mary School in Nadia district, 50 miles northeast of the West Bengal state capital of Kolkata, a police officer said.

Police Inspector General Anuj Sharma told Agence France-Presse that "two people have so far been arrested." The others remain at large.

The robbers tied the school's security guards with ropes early Saturday and entered the nuns' room, where the women were sleeping. They took one of the nuns to another room when she tried to block their way and then raped her, the officer said.

The Archbishop of Calcutta, Thomas d'Souza, told the BBC that security cameras inside the Convent of Jesus and Mary School show the faces of the six men who carried out the assault.

They first ransacked the school principal's office and classrooms before entering the convent itself.

"There are only three Sisters in the community," he said.

"One sister was molested badly. The other two, and a guard, were tied to chairs."

The men also stole money from the school, he said, vandalised the chapel, broke open the tabernacle and took away the ciborium, the sacred vessel used during Mass.

The school is well-known and has been open for 19 years, he added.

The Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, has condemned the incident.

The attack comes at a time of growing concern about sexual violence against women and there has been increased media reporting of rapes and assaults.

Christian groups have recently held protests in the Indian capital, Delhi, saying they are being targeted and demanding better protection.

Coconut Oil, Best Hair Treatment

Coconut oil is, one of the most effective hair treatments for a very wide variety of hair issues. Many claim that coconut oil actually works better than any man-made treatments on the market, and because it's 100% natural it's free of silicone, alcohols, and other chemicals that can aggravate sensitive skin and hair. It works incredibly well for repairing damaged hair that has been over-processed, heat damaged, or is just naturally dry.

Coconut oil is also anti-fungal in nature, making it a perfect natural anti-dandruff treatment, or as a preventative treatment for dandruff. It's a great regular hair treatment for maintaining very healthy hair and scalp when used as a part of your regular hair care routine (1-4 times per month).

Coconut 

Why Coconut Oil Works Better

 Coconut oil works well to recondition dry and damaged hair because the molecular structure of coconut oil, unlike other oils or moisturizers that just sit on the hair, is ideal for penetrating the hair shaft, getting past the cuticle, repairing and preventing damage from the inside out. Lauric acid, capric acid, and vitamin E (all present in coconut oil) help restructure hair, increase hair's strength by preventing protein loss, and vastly improve shine.

 People that regularly use a coconut oil treatment report increased body, shine, and manageability with less breakage, static, tangles, and split ends. Many also claim that hair sheds less and feels thicker after regular use.

How to Use Coconut Oil as a Deep Conditioning Treatment

For a deep conditioning treatment, massage a couple of tablespoons of the coconut oil into your clean, damp hair and scalp (if your hair is thinner or gets greasy easily, you may choose to skip the scalp as the oil could weigh your hair down). You may need more for long hair. Use more oil where your hair is the driest and most damaged (typically on the ends) and less where your hair is healthiest (mid-shaft and scalp area). 

I find that it's best to section your hair off and apply the coconut oil in manageable sections to be sure that every hair is coated properly. If your coconut oil is in a solid state, you will need to warm the oil gently to create a liquid. Allow the oil to sit on your hair for 20-30 minutes after application. People with very dry or porous hair may choose to leave it on longer and some people like to use it as an overnight treatment. To increase the effectiveness of the treatment, cover with a shower cap and wrap your hair in a hot towel (fresh from the dryer) or apply heat with a hair dryer for a few minutes. Because the oil is very heavy, you will need to shampoo the oil out of your hair well after the treatment.

Coconut oil can be a god-send to those with severely damaged, over processed, and heat styled hair. It will be important to experiment with the amount of coconut oil to use, and how long to allow the oil to penetrate your hair in a way that will work for your specific hair type. If the coconut oil leaves your hair feeling weighed down or greasy, try using less or shampooing more effectively post treatment.

How to Use Coconut Oil as a Daily Hair Moisturizer/Detangler

You can use a very small amount of coconut oil on the ends of your hair after showering as a detangler and as a daily moisturizer for very dry hair. It works wonders on dry skin issues as well.

How to Use Coconut Oil as a Dandruff Treatment

To treat dandruff, massage a small amount of coconut oil into your scalp and allow it to sit for at least 10 minutes and up to overnight (you'll want to wear a shower cap to bed or wrap your head/pillow in a towel). Shampoo out.

Benefits of Non-Starchy Vegetables

Non-Starchy Vegetables

Studies have shown that eating a diet rich in vegetables as part of an overall healthy diet can help reduce cardiovascular disease risk, cancer, Type 2 diabetes and obesity.

A vegetable rich diet can also help to lower blood pressure. Vegetables are nutrient dense - loaded with vitamins, minerals, disease fighting antioxidants and fiber. Fiber is an important nutrient when it comes to managing weight and diabetes. Fiber helps to keep you full, pulls cholesterol away from your heart and can help to regulate blood sugars by slowing down digestion.

One of the best ways to increase your fiber content is to increase your vegetable intake, preferably non-starchy vegetables. Non-starchy vegetables contain about 25 calories, 0 g fat, 5-6 g carbohydrate, 3 g fiber, and 0.5-2 g protein per 1/2 cup cooked or 1 cup raw. In addition to being a low calorie, and low carbohydrate food, non-starchy vegetables add texture, flavor, bulk, and rich color to any meal.

What to consider when purchasing:

If possible purchase produce that is in season. You'll not only save money, but reduce your carbon foot print by purchasing local produce. The less time spent traveling, the better the taste too.
Think about purchasing organic versions of certain vegetables that contain more pesticides. Pesticide exposure may increase your risk of cancer, skin problems, asthma, infertility, etc. If you've never heard of "the dirty dozen list," you may want to read up on it. These are food items that contain higher levels of pesticide residue. Some vegetables on the list include: celery, spinach, sweet bell peppers, cucumber, etc. For more info: http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/list.php

Here is a list of non starchy vegetables:

• Artichoke
• Asparagus
• Bean sprouts
• Broccoli
• Cabbage 
• Carrots 
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Cucumber
• Eggplant
• Leeks
• Lettuce: 
• Mushrooms
• Mustard greens
• Okra
• Onions
• Pea pods
• Peppers (all types) 
• Salad greens 
• Snow peas or pea pods
• Sprouts
• String beans
• Tomato
• Turnips
• Water chestnuts

Imo State University rusticates 700 students

The Vice Chancellor of Imo State University, Professor Ukachukwu Awuzie disclosed that over 700 students has been rusticated in the last 12 months for alleged examination misconduct .

Professor Ukachukwu Awuzie made this disclosure at the weekend in Owerri while addressing some selected journalist in the state on his one year in office, he said his administration has zero tolerance for examination malpractices.

Professor Awuzie however stated that some staff of the university who were found guilty by disciplinary panels have either being sacked or demoted .

According to him, the university has graduated about 150 medical doctors from the college of medicine of the university.

The former president of academic staff union of universities (ASUU )disclosed that ,the year under view, the university in collaboration with the TET fund research found have sponsored over 25 staff of the university to pursue their master degree and Ph.D programs

He regretted that most of the courses offered by the university have failed to meet the criteria for full accreditation by relevant bodies.

He further disclosed that the university authorities spent part of last year carrying out an audit on the affected courses as well as documenting the requirements in order to ensure that accreditation could be accorded to them.

“The administration has vigorously pursued the timely completion of the faculty of law building to ensure re-present of the faculty for accreditation this year. This could enable us admit the best and brightest law students into our revered citadel of learning for 2014/2015 session.