Photo of Weasel Riding Woodpecker Goes Viral, May Be Misunderstood

The photo below does not depict just any friendship. Quite the opposite, in fact.

The image was taken by photographer Martin Le-May while he and his wife were strolling Hornchurch Country Park in East London on Monday. it quickly went viral because, let’s face it, the picture is pretty darn cool.

It's a weasel flying around on the back of a woodpecker!
But not because the four-legged rodent is suddenly best pals with the bird.
Le-May told The Huffington Post UK that the bird was thrashing about when they first noticed, almost definitely because the weasel was trying to eat it!

"The woodpecker landed in front of us and I feared the worst," Le-May said. "I guess though our presence, maybe 25 metres away, momentarily distracted the weasel.

"The woodpecker seized the opportunity and flew up and away into some bushes away to our left. Quickly the bird gathered its self respect and flew up into the trees and away from our sight. The woodpecker left with its life, the weasel just disappeared into the long grass, hungry."

Wildlife expert Lucy Cooke confirms to the BBC that weasels are “fearless” predators, adding:
"A female weasel weighs less than a Mars Bar but is as ferocious as a lion, so this is why the woodpecker would have been able to take off with it on its back."

Still... hey. Cool photo!
 

Indian state bans beef, introduces jail time for possession

Indian butchers sell beef to Muslims who make up 13 percent of the country's population . 

India's western state of Maharashtra has introduced a ban on beef so strict that even possession could land you in jail for five years, media reports and the chief minister said Tuesday.  The country's Hindu majority considers cows sacred, and several states already ban their slaughter.  But the latest measures in Maharashtra -- home to India's commercial centre Mumbai -- go even further, making the sale or possession of beef an offence punishable by a five-year jail term or a 10,000 rupee ($160) fine.  The Indian Express newspaper said the measures became law after President Pranab Mukherjee gave his assent to a legal amendment -- which was passed by the state parliament two decades ago, but was never sent to a president for approval. 

The measures include a ban on the slaughter of bulls and bullocks, hitherto legal with a vet's certificate, although it will still be legal to slaughter buffalo.  Maharashtra's chief minister Devendra Fadnavis tweeted his thanks to the president, saying "our dream of ban on cow slaughter becomes a reality now". 

The ban didn't go unnoticed and led to an acrimonious debate on the social media with #BeefBan top-trending on India's twitter.  "In Maharashtra, all chicken, goats and sheep are currently thinking -- Why should gais (cows) have all the fun? #BeefBan," Ramesh Srivats said on Twitter. 

The decision led to many angry exchanges on social media with people on different sides of the divide citing personal freedom, religious beliefs, history, environment and even animal rights to make their point.  Many took snarky jibes at the local state government for its decision. "And in other news, safer to be born a cow than a girl in India," Sonika Mehta said on Twitter.  However there were many who came out in open support of the government's ban.  "No problems with #BeefBan whatsoever. Totally support it," Twitter-user Shivani Sahay posted.  Right-wing Hindu groups in India have long demanded a complete ban on the slaughter of all cattle, citing religious scriptures. 

The main players in the beef industry are Muslims, the country's largest religious minority, who make up some 13 percent of India's 1.25-billion population.  Maharashtra state is ruled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party in alliance with the far-right Shiv Sena party.

Humility: Actress MERCY JOHNSON ON WHY SHE BOARDED TRAIN WITH 'ORDINARY PEOPLE'

A few days back, Nollywood Diva, Mercy Johnson boarded a Train to Ikeja. She had the pictures posted online and her action has been generated a lot of comments. Impressed fans have been pressing for responses on why she made that choice.

 
Today, Mercy has responded via her publicist.

Please read below her responses:
“My picture and that of my daughter, Purity in a Lagos train has surfaced online and quite a number of people have asked me what I was doing in a train and in Lagos for that matter; not Paris or London.
I was around Iddo at Ebute Metta when my Range Rover developed a mechanical fault and I had to make a very important appointment in Ikeja regardless of the usual traffic congestion in Lagos. Luckily, a member of my management team was around, he suggested a train ride and we were in Ikeja in less than 30 minutes but that is not the crux of this statement.
Like I mentioned earlier, I have had to answer questions in private and public as to why I would board a train because trains in Nigeria are considered a means of transportation for the ordinary and not-so-rich people. A friend called and said I just devalued my brand by being on the train with ordinary people. I couldn’t help but laugh. Are we extra ordinary people because we are celebrities?
In as much as I understand the concept of branding, packaging and exclusiveness, I will never trade the experience to sit, interact and feel the pulse of so-called ordinary people.
By the way, I am part of the ordinary people. I grew up as an ordinary person among ordinary people. Why would I avoid them now? Would that be because I am now famous? Without these ordinary people, how would I have been famous in the first place? Without the so called ordinary people, where would Nigeria’s growing population of so-called well packaged celebrities be today?
For the purpose of clarification, I was not on that train due to lack of money to get a well packaged cab or to get somebody to bring another car from the house but, my car developed an unforeseen fault and I needed a fast , reliable and convenient alternative immediately as there was urgent business to be attended to and I respect time a lot.
The train was available where I was; most importantly, I did not want to turn down the opportunity to be with the people who would ordinarily not have access to me so I grabbed the opportunity with both hands and here we are.
I want to thank my co-passengers, officials of the train for treating me with absolute respect and courtesy, I am indeed, very grateful.”

See more photos below:
 

Judge Caught Driving A Car He Seized From Criminal

Judge Flavio Roberto de Souza,a federal high court judge in Brazil, has been caught driving a car, which he seized from a billionaire. The judge once presided over criminal proceedings against Eike Batista, who was once Brazil’s richest man.

The Judge who oversees Batista’s trial for insider trading, was caught driving the billionaire’s white Porsche Cayenne, after he ordered it to be seized. The Porsche was one of a number of luxury vehicles seized by police earlier this month, after the court order by judge de Souza.

Authorities seized the car due to concerns that Batista had been selling or donating assets that were frozen as part of the insider trading case.

After the judge was caught driving the car to his home and was asked why he was driving it, he allegedly said: “The Federal Police did not have a safe place to store the car and it was exposed to rain, sun, and possible damage. I took it to an enclosed parking space in the building where I live.”

The cars were supposed to be put up for auction this week, but Batista’s lawyer secured an injunction to stop the sale. Court officials have now requested that judge de Souza recuse himself from the billionaire’s case, a federal prosecutor said.

Omawumi Is Looking Stunning As She Shows Off Baby Bump

By Ngozi Lovelyn on 00:13

Omawumi was pictured as she was getting ready for an interview. She is really looking beautiful and glowing. 

- See more at: http://www.xperiang.com/2015/03/omawumi-is-looking-stunning-as-she.html#sthash.1wdQZ7Vs.dpuf

”Her Nak*d Body Turned Me On” – 16 year old Boy Robs, Rapes 52-Year-Old Woman (Photo)

A first look at Abdulateef (surname withheld) would give the impression of a young innocent boy who would not hurt a fly. Ordinarily, the fragile-looking 16-year-old SSS1 student looked odd to be a suspect undergoing interrogation at the anti-robbery section of the Department of Criminal Investigation, Ogun State Police Command. But the allegations against him are so weighty.

Crime Reports gathered that Abdulateef was arrested on January 18, 2015 at Lambe area of Ajuwon, Ogun State after he allegedly entered the residence of a 52-year-old neighbour in the dead of the night, dispossessed her of the sum of N16,500 and went ahead to rape her, not minding the age difference between them.

The neighbour (names withheld), whose husband works as a civil servant in a South West state, was
said to be sleeping in her room when Abdulateef entered her residence at about 1.40a.m. The suspect met the woman spread on her bed, unclad. Holding a rod that he had as a weapon, he was reported to have tapped the elderly woman awake, demanding for valuables.

The invader was said to have sent shivers down the spine of the woman by telling her that other gang members were outside, and it would be in her own interest if she cooperated, or she would be dealt with. The woman quickly handed over the N16,500 she had with her and prayed inwardly that the boy would leave her alone.

But she was shocked when the intruder commanded that she lay on her bed and spread her legs for him, as he wanted to have a good time with her. Conscious of the threat of other members laying siege, the elderly woman quickly complied and the boy had his way.

After satisfying himself, the boy went out, happy with a mission accomplished and the fact that his elderly neighbour did not see his face. But unknown to him, the woman recognized him as his neighbour’s teenage son, though it was dark.

At day break, she put a call through to her husband to inform him of her experience. The husband was reported to have travelled down to his community and went to Ajuwon police station to report a case of robbery and rape. When interrogated, the teenager confessed his deeds and was promptly transferred to the Department of Criminal Investigation, Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further interrogation.
Speaking with Crime Reports, Abdulateef blamed ‘evil spirit’ for his crime. In his explanation, he said:

“I am in SSS 1 at a high school in Ogun State. I live at Lambe area, Ajuwon with my parents. I am the first born and I have three younger ones. On January 18, 2015, at about 1a.m., I went to my neighbour’s house to rob and rape. I never knew she recognized me. I have never carried out robbery before that day. I don’t know what made me do it but I believe I was propelled by an evil spirit.”

When asked how he gained entry into the victim’s house, Asamu narrated his escapade thus:

“I entered through the main door which was usually not locked. The residence was uncompleted. I met the woman sleeping. She was Unclad as she slept and the sight aroused me. I woke her up and asked her to bring all the money she had. I was holding a rod and I told her that my other gang members were outside, threatening her to cooperate or she would be dealt with.

 She handed over N16,500 to me, after which I ordered her to lie on the bed. I climbed her and had sex with her. After about five minutes, I stood up and left for my house”.

The suspect said he started having sexual intercourse in 2014 with a girl who was his age and lived in the neighbourhood. But he said the girl’s family had moved out of the community.

Speaking on the events that followed his action, the teenager said:
“on the third day, the woman’s husband called me and warned me not to pass through his compound again as he wanted to sprinkle charms around his compound. I later saw policemen who were brought to arrest me.

I confessed to my parents. I used N5,000 to buy a phone but it was not good so I returned it. I used the remaining to eat and entertain friends.

The story was confirmed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who said that the suspect would be charged to court when judicial workers resume from their strike action.

Betting Gone Wrong: Fan Commits Suicide Over Arsenal’s Loss to Monaco

Police in Mbarara, western Uganda, are investigating a case in which a soccer fan is said to have committed suicide following Arsenal Football Club’s loss to Monaco last Wednesday.

Deus Ruhindi, a resident of Kakiika in Mbarara district is said to have hanged himself after he lost a betting stake worth Shs500,000 when Monaco walloped Arsenal 3-1 in a European champions league fixture.

His body was on Friday found hanging on an avocado tree in the family banana plantation.

An eye witness said the Friday tragedy resulted from a betting receipt gone wrong.

Ruhindi, a bodaboda rider had reportedly used his employer’s money to bet. Upon receiving the bad news (from the bet), the deceased is said to have moved back to his home village and committed suicide.

The witnesses said, Ruhindi, an orphan had narrated his story to some of his relatives – many of whom condemned him.

He became more depressed when his guardians reportedly rebuked him and vowed not to help him pay the debt.

The deceased left behind a suicide note, explaining why he committed suicide but requested his relatives to pay his debt. Local Police was called at the scene and it allowed the relatives to carry on with the burial.

Ruhinda’s ordeal is another of the many suicide and stress related cases arising from betting and passionate cheering of sports events.

The stories of people staking household property, cheaply selling off valuables to raise money for betting and husbands staking wives and children are common in Uganda.

Erm, wait…actress Nadia Buari has given birth to twins?

Wait, when was she pregnant? According to breaking news by Ghanian media outlets/Radio
stations, Nadia Buari has given birth to twins. She’s been off the scene for a while now and if you take a look at her instagram page, she hasn’t posted anything from ‘waist down’ in the past few months.

Her father allegedly also confirmed the news to Ghanaian media out, MyJoyOnline, saying “It’s true. She brought forth twins alright, that is true. I’m confirming it as the father”. He further disclosed that she indeed gave birth to her twins outside the country but won’t disclose where.

So, who’s the father of the babies?
More tweets after the cut…

Oh No! See What Wicked Stepmum Did To This 2 Year Old Girl (Photos)

This young girl’s stepmother, 28-year-old Christiana Faturoti,  allegedly threw her there as a punishment because she soiled herself. After putting the child in the room, she padlocked it and left for her workplace.
 
For over two hours on February 17, the little girl, who turned two on February 15, 2015, groaned and moaned, until a neighbour heard the sound and traced it to an unoccupied room which was padlocked. After peeping and seeing the girl in such a condition, the neighbour quickly alerted the police at Itori police station. Christiana was promptly arrested and is currently undergoing interrogation at the Anti-Human Trafficking section of the Department of Criminal Investigation, Ogun State Police Command.

Lovelyn’s mother was reported to have developed baby blues (mental illness) after birth and is currently at a psychiatric hospital where she is undergoing treatment. Crime Reports learnt that the child’s father, Mr Christopher William, met Christiana on the facebook, after which they started a relationship.

Willam (37), from Abia State who spoke with Crime Reports, said:
“Christiana posted a notice on facebook that a single lady from Osun State, a mother of one, needed a husband. I called the number and asked that we meet.
“I sent her N5,000 as transport fare to Lagos State and she came in February 2013. She slept in my place and left the following day. We lost contact for about two months. Later, she called me that she was pregnant and I told her to come over to Lagos. We went to my mother in Abia State in June and spent about a week there.

“In October 2013, I told Christiana to move in with me until she would deliver her baby, after which we would go to her family for marriage formalisation. To my surprise, she refused, saying that she had to get the consent of her friend, Dekola Elizabeth. She later called and said her friend disagreed with my suggestion.
“When she put to bed on December 5, 2013 and I was informed, I still repeated my suggestion but she refused. I said we would hold the naming ceremony when the baby would be three months according to my culture but she named the baby herself on the seventh day.
“All these led to a disagreement for a while until I called her for settlement again and I promised to be visiting. In November 2014, she said she wanted to see my daughter. Then my daughter, Lovelyn, was with a care giver whom I was paying N12,000 per month. She suggested that she take the little girl to stay with her along with her son. That was same November.

“I agreed with the idea and she took my daughter.
“Any time I went there, the friend would not allow me to sleep over. She would be looking at her watch, telling me it was time to leave. If I desired to have private discussion with Christiana, she would ask me to say everything in the presence of her friend.
“My daughter was two years old on February 15, so on February 14, I called her that we should celebrate Valentine’s Day together so that the following day, we could mark my daughter’s birthday but she said no, she had a church programme. On February 15, I was at Christiana’s place.
“I noticed that my baby was wearing two dresses. I removed the dresses and saw whip marks on my daughter’s body. I also saw another mark on her face and noticed that her eyes were bloodshot. On enquiries, Christiana said my daughter got the marks from school.

“I called her friend’s attention to it but her response was ‘That is your business’. I made up my mind to go with my daughter but Christiana said she would put her in her own class in school. I gave her N5,000 and said I would be back on Wednesday.

“I was surprised when I received a call on February 17 from Itori police station. When I got there, I was shown my daughter’s picture and I started weeping. I enquiries on what I did to warrant the treatment and I was told she said I loved the girl more than her son.”

Christopher said the lady’s family had been begging her but said his relationship with her was over. “If she could do this to my daughter, it means my life is in danger too.”

Christiana, from Imesi-Ile, Osun State, told Crime Reports that

“the girl did not offend me but I was not happy at the way Christopher neglected me and the baby I had for him, and concentrated on his daughter.

“I met Christopher on facebook in December 2012. He told me he had a child but was single. I also told him I was a single mother of one. He proposed a relationship and I went to Lagos State to see him. When I got pregnant, I went to his parents in Abia State. On our return, I asked him to accompany me to my parents’ but he said he was not ready to go, telling me to pack into his house. I refused and he stopped coming to me.

“After delivery, I called him and he came with N5,000, diapers and clothes. He did not come for the naming ceremony; I named the child myself.“In September, 2014, he called to apologise and said he would start performing his responsibility. In October, he said his daughter’s care giver had travelled and his relations were using the girl to extort money from him. He said I should get an accommodation for him so that he would move close to me. Christopher started coming regularly and would bring provisions.

“It is true I beat the girl which left marks on her. She soiled herself and I was angry with her. On February 17, she soiled herself again, so I tied her hands and legs, tapered her mouth and threw her inside the room the father paid for, though yet to move in. I padlocked the room and left for my workplace at about 7a.m. I just wanted to punish her.”

 When asked to describe her action, Christiana replied: “Wicked”.

Christiana’s friend, Diekola Elizabeth from Eruwa, Oyo State (27), who was also arrested, told Crime Reports that

“I didn’t know about what Christiana did to Lovelyn. I was not a party to it, though I also beat her once when she soiled herself.
“It is true that Christopher pointed my attention to the marks on the child’s body and said that he wanted to go with her, but I replied that the choice was his because it was none of my business.”

Reacting to the story, the police image maker in Ogun state Police Command, DSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, described the suspect’s act as inhuman.

White and Gold Dress: Confirmed as Blue and Black!

The Great Dress Debate of 2015 appears to have been settled.

It all started last week when a Tumblr used share the picture of a dress that he said had prompted a major disagreement between him and his friends.

Some saw it as white and gold. Others had no doubt the dress was blue and black.
The Internet proceeded to explode over the topic, with celebrities choosing sides and relationships being placed in danger depending on which team husband and wife found themselves on.

But Laura Coleman is here to set the record straight.

See, the dress actually exists and it was designed by Roman Originals. On that company’s website, the frock is offered in Blue and Black, White and Black, Red and Black and Pink and Black.

Gold is nary to be found as an option!
“Okay so I was the first to wear this dress and just to confirm it’s definitely black and blue! #thedress,” Coleman wrote on Instagram in response to the controversy, including with it multiple photos of herself in the gown.

But does the dress above look the same to you as the dress below?
Is your head starting to spin faster than the llama who were on the loose in Arizona yesterday from all this back and forth?

Take a very close look at the image that started it all and then click around to view the major celebrity divide on this pressing issue:
 

3 Sisters Who Survived UNIJOS Bomb Blast Narrate Their Survival Story - See Pictures

During the week – Thursday – a twin bomb rocked Jos, the Plateau State capital, killing about 12 students of the University of Jos (UNIJOS).
 

The explosions occurred between 4pm and 6pm around the university’s main campus.

The first explosion happened at the popular Bauchi Motor Park while the second occurred near a military checkpoint reported to be just about 100 meters away.

Amina, Hauwa and Aishat Mudi (three sisters) who survived the blast have narrated their experience to PUNCH newspaper.

Amina Sani Mudi, a 19-year-old 100-level student of Medicine at the University of Jos said, “I had just finished my Chemistry paper, which I had from 3pm to 6pm and it was raining. As I walked to the gate of the university, I called my sisters who were at the School of Forestry to buy one of the JME recommended books. I walked down and joined them as they were already waiting for me in front of Bauchi Park. We stood and were waiting for a tricycle to take us home.

“As we stood waiting for a tricycle the next thing we heard was a loud explosion. Initially, I thought it was thunder because it was still drizzling. But somebody shouted, ‘bomb, bomb,’ and we ran to a nearby pharmacy for safety. I saw a girl whose hands were mutilated and she was calling her father. We saw pieces of human flesh all around the place. The thought on my mind was just to run for safety. If you say you are a true Muslim, no religion, even Christianity, preaches that anybody should kill another. I want to appeal to the terrorists to stop because God does not sanction killing.”

Hauwa Sani Mudi, 21, the eldest of the sisters  said “I thought that it was an explosion from a transformer until we heard somebody shouting, ‘bomb, bomb.’ I ran with my sisters to a nearby pharmacy because we were told that the soldiers could start shooting and we tried to contact our father. We did not even know that we were wounded.”

While the youngest of the sisters, Aisha, said , ‘’I am thankful to God for sparing our lives. He is a good God.’’