All about life
Friday 19 July 2013
Kethi Kilonzo out of makueni senataorial race
its now official that Kenzi Kilonzo the daughter of the former makueni senator the late Mutula Kilonzo will not vie for same seat after her father's controversial death, HIGH COURT RULES
Angola to become Africa's top oil producer 'next year'
Angola could as early as next year become Africa's top
oil producing nation surpassing Nigeria, news outlets in the southern
African country report, quoting British media.
The Financial Times and Reuters news agency have attributed Angola's rise mainly to internal problems wracking Nigeria.
Widespread theft valued at $6 billion annually has
been widely cited as a reason for declining production in the west
African country, for decades Africa's top producer.
Delay in reforming the industry has also slowed
down investment, while creaking infrastructure has contributed to costly
leakages and the overall unreliability of production.
The market is also shifting, with refiners
especially in China increasingly preferring Angola's heavier crude over
Nigeria's lighter grade for various reasons, Reuters reported in May.
According to industry data, oil production in
Nigeria has decreased from 2.2 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2012 to
1.9m bpd currently.
Angola, which is more stable and has also been
bringing new fields into play, in May produced more than its west
African rival with an output of 1.73m bpd against Nigeria's 1.676 bpd.
Last week Angolan oil minister Botelho de
Vasconcelos said the country's oil production would hit 2 million bpd
next year against a current daily average of 1.75m barrels daily.
Oil and gas contribute about 80 per cent of Nigerian government revenue, and 90 per cent of foreign exchange earnings.
Law on school leavers training at NYS passed
National Youth Service officers during a pass out parade. Senators want
the return of the mandatory National Youth Service training for Form
Four graduates.
Posted Thursday, July 18 2013 at 23:30
In Summary
- The legislators argued that enrollment in NYS would also keep the youth busy from engaging in alcohol and drug abuse and other anti-social behaviour resulting from idleness.
Secondary school leavers will be trained at the
National Youth Service before joining university or other higher
education institutions.
Senators resolved on Thursday that National Youth
Service centres be set up in all counties to train the youth on
unskilled jobs and in patriotism ahead of further studies after sitting
Form Four examinations.
The House unanimously passed a motion by nominated
Senator Beatrice Elachi asking that secondary school leavers be
facilitated to join NYS for courses offered by the service to enable
them acquire necessary skills.
Ms Elachi, also the Majority Whip in the Senate,
proposed in her motion that those who graduate from NYS be given the
first priority during recruitment for jobs by both the national and
county governments.
In the proposal, directed to the department of
devolution and planning, the House noted that the youth needed to be
assisted to access employment.
The legislators argued that enrollment in NYS
would also keep the youth busy from engaging in alcohol and drug abuse
and other anti-social behaviour resulting from idleness.
“The youth who are the backbone of our society are
the most affected and as a result, many of them have become
disillusioned and hopeless,” said Senator Elachi in her Motion.
Implemented
Senate Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki said the House will follow through to ensure the proposal by the Senate is legislated.
Prof Kindiki, the senator for Tharaka, said the
House Implementation Committee would ensure implementation of the new
law. He said it was crucial in empowering youth at the county level.
Lawyer claims Lamu Senator Abu Chiaba is not Kenyan
Updated Thursday, July 18th 2013 at 10:58 GMT +3
Drama unfolded at the High Court in Malindi yesterday after a lawyer claimed Lamu County Senator Abu Chiaba was not a Kenyan citizen.
Chiaba admitted that he was not born in Kenya but added that he qualified to be a citizen after registration many years ago and even holds a Kenya Identification Card.
He did not say where he was born but his lawyer accused his opponents of trying to embarrass his client.
All-conquering Kenyan youth return to tumultuous welcome
From left: 800m runner Alfred Kipketer, Lilian Kasait (3,000m),
Rosefline Chepngetich (2,000m steeplechase) and Robert Kiptoo Biwot
(1,500M) proudly display their gold medals at JKIA.
In Summary
- Doting auntie says she never dreamed 1,500m champ Biwot would ever board a plane
- JKIA turned into one big party venue as World Youth Championships stars are feted for their gold haul
Business at the Jomo Kenyatta International
Airport’s reception area grounded to a halt on Thursday morning as the
triumphant Team Kenya arrived to a tumultuous welcome from the eighth
edition of the World Youth Championships that was held in Ukraine.
Kenya finished second overall with a total of 11
medals, four gold, three silver and four bronze, behind overall winners,
Jamaica.
The all-conquering team was met with song and dance as they displayed their shining medals.
Former Sports Minister and Mogotio MP Hellen
Sambili joined in the celebrations as one of the four gold medallists,
Robert Biwott, a resident of her constituency, was carried shoulder
high.
Biwott, a Form Four student at Athinai Secondary
in Rongai Baringo won the 1,500m boys’ finals in 3:36.77 minutes,
breaking the World Youth record of 3:36.78 that had stood for 12 years.
Biwott lost both parents at the age of five, and
was adopted and raised by her aunt, Rebecca Teriki, who was on hand to
proudly welcome the youngster back.
“I am speechless with what my son has done for me
and the community at large. I never imagined he could even board a
plane and now he has done it and won gold for Kenya. He is a disciplined
boy and also does very well in class and we are very proud of him,”
said Teriki.
Sambili said: “There is no way I could have I
stayed at home to sleep when the first gold medallist from my
constituency was arriving. I am very proud of him and honoured to get a
runner from my constituency breaking a 12-year-old record.”
Lilian Kasait, a shy Class Seven pupil at Kaptabuk
Primary in West Pokot, who won 3,000m gold, said her source of
inspiration was three-time World Half Marathon champion, Tegla Loroupe.
“Tegla has inspired me so much and I am loving
being a world champion. I train very hard to emulate her. This is my
first competitive race and I am happy to have started with a victory.”
Head coach Kariuki Gekonyo lauded the results terming them a sound
warning to Kenya’s rivals in long distance races.
Meanwhile, 800m champion, Alfred Kipketer said he
was hot on the heels of Olympic champion and world record holder, David
Rudisha.
“I have admired Rudisha and always wish to follow
his footsteps. I have started this journey very well and I can tell
Kenya that 800m race is in safe hands,” he said.
17-year-old said.
Two athletes, Jarinter Mwasya (800) and Stanley
Kieti Mutunga (200) were disqualified for unknowingly stepping on the
line against IAAF rules.
Machine turns sweat into drinking water
Updated Friday, July 19th 2013 at 10:03 GMT +3 A machine that takes sweat-laden clothes and turns the moisture into drinking water is in use in Sweden.
The device spins and heats the material to remove the sweat, and then passes the vapour through a special membrane designed to only let water molecules get through.
They add the liquid is cleaner than local tap water.
The device was built for the United Nation's child-focused charity Unicef to promote a campaign highlighting the fact that 780 million people in the world lack access to clean water.
Moist cyclists
The machine was designed and built by engineer Andreas Hammar, known locally for his appearances on TV tech show Mekatronik.
He said the critical part of the sweat machine was a new water purification component developed by a company named HVR in collaboration with Sweden's Royal Institute of Technology.
"It uses a technique called membrane distillation," he told the BBC.
"We use a substance that's a bit like Gortex that only lets steam through but keeps bacteria, salts, clothing fibres and other substances out.
"They have something similar on the [International] Space Station to treat astronaut's urine - but our machine was cheaper to build.
"The amount of water it produces depends on how sweaty the person is - but one person's T-shirt typically produces 10ml [0.3oz], roughly a mouthful.
Thursday 18 July 2013
Kenya National Union of Teachers in rush to secure teachers’ June pay
Updated Friday, July 19th 2013 at 09:52 GMT +3 KENYA: Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) officials spent the better part of yesterday pleading with the Government to fine-tune their return-to-work formula a day after they called off strike.
Knut national chairman Wilson Sossion, secretary general Mudzo Nzili, national treasurer Albanus Mutisya and union legal officer arrived at TSC headquarters a few minutes after 11am.
The officials spent close to three hours at TSC waiting for commission secretary Gabriel Lengoiboni, who was out of the office for another meeting. Mr Sossion said they wanted to ‘fine-tune’ the document with relevant offices.
They later left TSC for the office of Labour Secretary Kazungu Kambi where reports indicated they asked him to fast track the process.
Sources indicated that unless the deal is properly signed, Knut members would not have their June salaries paid even after the union called off the strike.
“We want the June salaries released and that is why we are moving up and down,” said Mr Mutisya.
Ride on Kuppet
But even as the officials pushed to validate the deal, the rival union warned they will not allow Knut to ride on a deal they had negotiated with the Government.
Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers ( Kuppet) secretary general Akelo Misori and union national chairman Omboko Milemba said they will block Knut from registering any agreement with the Industrial Court.
The union officials said Knut had not registered any of the items lined up in their return-to-work formula.
PM snubs train for a helicopter... and wastes thousands of pounds on 140-mile trip to meet factory workers
Updated Thursday, July 18th 2013 at 14:15 GMT +3 David Cameron spent thousands of pounds of public money on a 140-mile helicopter flight to Lincoln instead of taking a car or train.
The Prime Minister snubbed public transport and travelled by military aircraft to attend a question-and-answer session with factory workers.
It is believed that the flight by RAF helicopter was only a little more than an hour faster than taking a train.
On Tuesday, Mr Cameron was driven to RAF Northolt, near Uxbridge, West London, in his ministerial car, a journey of around 35 minutes.
He was then flown by military helicopter to RAF Waddington, near Lincoln – a flight of less than an hour – where he was met by another car to take the 13-minute journey to a Siemens factory.
A similar train journey from London to Lincoln, changing at Newark North Gate, takes around two hours and costs £67, or around £120 for a first-class ticket.
It is not known how much using the RAF helicopter would have cost, but it is likely to have been several thousand pounds.
Billy Graham's Devotional Now on YouVersion
July 18, 2013 - YouVersion, the mobile app which crossed the 100 million download mark, has made the Bible available in more than 500 different versions and 300 languages, but it also features many devotional reading plans, including most recently Billy Graham's 366-day plan, "Day by Day."
"Billy Graham is one of the most trusted, well-known Christian leaders of our time."
—YouVersion's Adam Bouse
—YouVersion's Adam Bouse
Billy Graham is no stranger to the latest technology.
As
one of the first to leverage radio and television to spread the Gospel
message around the globe, Mr. Graham was somewhat of a technological
trailblazer.
So it only makes sense that his devotions are now available on the most widely distributed biblical mobile application — YouVersion.
“My
grandfather has always been on the cutting edge when it comes to
technology,” said Will Graham, grandson of Billy Graham and associate
evangelist and vice president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic
Association. “He pioneered the use of radio, television and motion
pictures in evangelism, and we are seeing a tremendous impact today
through the Internet and reaching people on mobile devices.”
Mr. Graham’s one-year reading plan from his popular devotion Day by Day is now available on YouVersion, which celebrated 100 million downloads on July 7.
Thousands across the world have been engaging in Mr. Graham’s devotional content for years on the free BGEA app, where in addition to devotion content you’ll find Billy Graham sermons, television specials and classic Hour of Decision programs.
Making it available on YouVersion opens up an entirely new audience of believers eager to engage in God’s Word.
“We
hope making this content available via YouVersion will help people
around the world grow closer in their relationship with God,” Will
Graham said.
Adam Bouse, one of the team leaders at YouVersion, is excited about adding Day by Day to its reading plan lineup, which includes Focus on the Family, John Piper, James McDonald and Our Daily Bread, among others.
“Billy
Graham is one of the most trusted, well-known Christian leaders of our
time,” Bouse said. “The teaching and wisdom that Billy Graham brings to
the table will help people connect with Scripture and become a daily
habit. We don’t want people just to read the Bible on Sunday.”
‘A Legend’
Engagement in Scripture has always been a big deal at YouVersion, the ministry founded by LifeChurch.tv.
And in a recent survey, YouVersion found that 77 percent of its users
report they read the Bible more frequently because they have it on their
mobile devices.
“Our
goal is for people to engage in God’s Word,” said Lori Bailey, director
of communications at LifeChurch.tv. “And Billy Graham is a legend. To be
able to offer his content to people in a digital format is thrilling.
We definitely see people responding in a big way.”
Bouse
estimates between 40,000-50,000 people initially signing up for Billy
Graham’s reading plan, and within a year’s time he could see more than
100,000 engaging with Day by Day.
“When
people come to the Bible, they have questions, how do they read it, how
do they apply it to my life,” Bouse said. “We know that trusted leaders
help people engage in the Bible.”
Bailey
thinks the Billy Graham devotional may “stretch our demographics a
bit,” while also “introducing this content to a new generation.”
“With a household name like Billy Graham, there’s not too much doubt there will be many subscribers,” she said.
‘Last-Ditch Effort’
The YouVersion app
also celebrated its five-year anniversary on July 10. But as Bailey,
Bouse and others at YouVersion will attest, the fact that they’re even
around in 2013 is a testament to God’s sovereignty.
And
the fact that every second 66,000 users are using YouVersion and that
you can find more than 500 versions and 300 languages on the mobile
site, is beyond its wildest dreams.
“It’s
pretty easy to step back and say God is clearly doing something
special,” said Bouse, who joined the team about three years ago when
itsnumbers were hovering around 8 million users. “We don’t want to take
any credit for it. In an instant, God could take it and move it
somewhere else.”
Bailey couldn’t agree more.
“The
easy answer is it’s because God’s behind it, but it’s true,” said
Bailey about the app that was launched as one of about 200 free apps
when Apple opened its iTunes store in 2008. “Being first probably
helped. But we were in a unique situation to give it a try because we
had already created an online Bible.”
But
like many success stories, YouVersion had a rocky start. Things were so
bleak in the early days, according to Bailey, “We were just a couple
weeks from turning the YouVersion website off.”
Launched
as a traditional website, YouVersion began in 2007 and by early 2008,
the traffic numbers had only climbed to the 20,000 range for the first
year, far below projections.
“(The
leaders) were in a big room, with all these Post-its on the wall,”
Bailey said. “And they decided to try this one last-ditch effort.”
Most
everyone in the room was on their Blackberry phones at the time and
they decided to try out a mobile version. And then the game-changer
happened in March, when Apple announced it was opening an iTunes store.
Although nobody realized the possible impact.
“We had a young 19-year-old kid who loved Apple and jumped in and did it as sort of a side project,” Bailey said.
LifeChurch.tv’s
innovation pastor and YouVersion’s founder, Bobby Gruenewald set a
lofty goal at the time of 80,000 downloads from iTunes over the first
six months.
“It hit 80,000 installs in the first weekend,” Bailey said.
By
May of 2012, YouVersion hit 50 million installs and just 14 months
later — at precisely 3:46 p.m. on July 7 — it celebrated the 100
millionth download.
“People
are reading the Bible in the car, waiting to pick up the kids, at line
in the grocery store, while they’re at the airport,” Bouse said. “We
hear stories about people all the time, people who have tried for years
to read the Bible all the way through in a year, who are finally doing
it.”
Big Year for Billy Graham
The
YouVersion announcement comes at a significant time in Mr. Graham’s
ministry. He is praying and preparing for the biggest North America
evangelism outreach, My Hope with Billy Graham, which culminates in November in both the United States and Canada.
More than 16,000 churches have registered to participate in My Hope America, which also includes an Oct. 15 release of his newest book, The Reason for My Hope: Salvation.
At
the same time, Capitol Christian Group will release a music project
entitled My Hope: Songs Inspired by the Message and Mission of Billy
Graham. Among the Platinum- and Gold-selling artists on the CD are
Newsboys, Michael W. Smith, Matthew West, Israel Houghton, Lacey Sturm,
Kari Jobe, Darlene Zschech, Nicole Nordeman, Amy Grant and Vince Gill.
68,000 graduates blacklisted as Helb cracks whip on defaulters
Updated Friday, July 19th 2013 at 09:05 GMT +3 Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has blacklisted more than 68,000 graduates for defaulting on their loan repayments and forwarded their names to the Credit Reference Bureau (CRBs).
The blacklisted borrowers will not be allowed to access credit from any financial institution for a period not less than seven years from the time they complete their last loan repayment installments, according to the new regulations governing the operations of the CRBs.
The latest move comes just after the expiry of an amnesty campaign period where past beneficiaries were allowed to pay outstanding loans in lump sum and have their interest and penalties waived.
The two-month exercise recovered Sh670 million as past beneficiaries rushed to benefit from the interest and penalty-waiving scheme.
However, Chief Executive Charles Ringera said the amount in default stands in excess of Sh7.45 billion.
“We are now members of the credit information sharing system. We have already forwarded the file of defaulters to the Credit Reference Bureau,” Ringera told The Standard in a telephone interview yesterday.
Amnesty campaign
He said the unemployed are also part of these defaulters because people are just becoming evasive but we will follow them. Ringera said prior to the amnesty campaign the number of loan defaulters stood at 75,500 but declined to 68,647 at the end of the campaign on July 6. HELB two years ago started imposing a Sh5, 000 fine for each month that a loan is not serviced from the time of maturity.
The penalty is slapped on beneficiaries regardless of whether or not they had been able to secure an employment opportunity.
HELB loans fall due immediately a beneficiary completes his/her course irrespective of whether they are in employment or not.
Owalo a "decoy," CID target is Cord leaders
Cord's Johnstone Muthama and Anyang' Nyong'o and other coalition leaders
during a news conference at the Kenyatta International Conference
Centre, Nairobi July 18, 2013. Cord accused the CID of targeting its
leaders after former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s aide was summoned
over an alleged plot to destabilise the government. EMMA NZIOKA
The Coalition for Reforms and Democracy has
accused the CID of targeting its leaders after former Prime Minister
Raila Odinga’s aide was summoned over an alleged plot to destabilise the
government.
Eliud Owalo who headed Mr Odinga’s presidential campaign in the run up to the March 4 polls was summoned by the CID on Tuesday for questioning.
Mr Owalo has been summoned
again to appear before the CID on Monday through a letter from a Mr John
Kariuki on behalf of the director of criminal investigations Ndegwa
Muhoro.
On Thursday, Cord leaders
Anyang Nyong’o, Johnstone Muthama, James Orengo, Ugunja MP James Wandayi
and Migori women representative Dennitah Ghati among others dismissed
the allegations accusing the Jubilee administration of taking Kenyans
back to dark days of oppression.
“The Jubilee government is
already destabilised. No one needs to destabilise it,” Prof Nyong’o told
journalists at Kenyatta International Conference Centre, Nairobi.
Decoy
In a statement, the Cord
leaders said Mr Owalo was a decoy and that his pursuit is diversionary
as “the real target are his bosses; the coalition principals Hon Raila
Odinga, Hon Kalonzo Musyoka and Senator (Moses) Wetangula.”
They said the allegations
against Mr Owalo “are an insult to Kenyans as the source of this so
called intelligence sources of information was a blog known as The
Jackal News ran by known TNA operative who clearly is carrying out
errands for the Jubilee Government".
“Kenyans are not fools. We
urge the Jubilee Government to mind the business of Kenyans, to respect
and uphold the Constitution of Kenya and to cease and desist from using
untoward tactics by ways of withholding benefits for the principals,
frustrating their smooth movement in and out of the country using our
airports and making wild baseless allegations yet serious accusations.
The country must not be divided further,” the statement said.
Curtail individual liberties
Cord said it is concerned
about the way individual liberties and freedoms were being rolled back
and curtailed “not only for the lowly person but unbelievably even for
principals and icons of democracy in Kenya".
“It is only two days ago the
Deputy President William Ruto was quoted in the media calling for the
possible arrest of the Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga
because of serious issues he raised concerning IEBC (Independent
Electoral and Boundaries Commission),” the statement said.
Saying the guilty are afraid,
Prof Nyong’o said barely days after Mr Odinga chastised IEBC, Mr Owalo
was accused of working to wreck Jubilee.
“It is instructive that Mr
Owalo is not just another aide, but is in fact the individual that ran
the Prime Minister's Campaign Secretariat. As such he would be privy to
details of anomalies and short comings and malfunctions that led to a
disputed election which was argued in the Supreme Court,” Prof Nyong’o
said.
The leaders said Mr Owalo was
also being targeted because of an article he wrote on a local daily
titled: Why the electoral commission must be disbanded.”
Cord accused the CID are making unsubstantiated, comical, cheap yet treasonable charges against Mr Owalo.
Cord said the allegations
against Mr Owalo include: That Mr Owalo is conducting secret meetings
and organising youth around the country, in major towns and slums for
purposes of fomenting an uprising or revolt against the Jubilee
Government; That Mr Owalo is organising diplomats, foreign embassies,
clergy and the civil society to rise up and oppose the Jubilee
Government by causing disaffection; That all this Mr Owalo is doing to
mimic an Egyptian style revolution or uprising also part of what was
called the Arab spring; That Mr Owalo has received millions of
shillings from foreign embassies through a Nairobi Law firm in the guise
of proceeds of legal transaction but which will be used to further the
above objectives.
Learn how to negotiate for the relationship you want
PHOTO | FILE A relationship is akin to a business deal.
FOTOSEARCH |
Posted
Wednesday, July 17
2013 at
01:00
In Summary
- Sometimes, there’s need for power play to get what you want – don’t shy away from flexing your muscles if needed.
I have been reading about the hullabaloo
surrounding the preparation, presentation, approval, and eventual
execution of the national budget. Hidden from the eyes of the common mwananchi,
there are processes that include technocratic input, lobbying,
negotiations and power play. The final product is what will shape this
country in the planning year as well as lay a foundation for successive
years.
Along the same lines, I have deeply considered the
process of one making a proposal for a lasting relationship—what goes
into it and how that influences the future of the relationship. I have
concluded that these same processes—technocratic input, lobbying,
negotiations and power play should apply. Here is why.
Technocratic Input
A big term for sure, but it holds just as much. It
means that certain technical details are necessary before popping that
all important question. It is about knowing exactly what you want and
using it to gauge your catch. In very technical terms, consider the
demographics, (age, colour, tribe, size and shape) sociographics
(family, friends, and other affiliations) and the psychographic details,
such as attitudes, emotional state, and passion.
If need be, which I think should always be the
case, seek the advice of others whom you can trust and who can help you
to make an honest assessment of your intended partner.
Lobbying
Lobbying is about drawing people to your side, to
sell your ideas convincingly to those who may influence the final
decision. In my view, the many hurdles that affect a relationship, such
as family, should be dealt with earlier. For instance, in the context of
a relationship that exists two to three years or more before the actual
proposal is made, I believe parents and other important people should
be informed and lobbied for the sake of a smooth transition when the
time comes.
Negotiations
Negotiations are necessary where all interests
cannot be fully satisfied. It is a give and take process in which
parties bargain and finally come to a consensus.
In relationships, it is surprising that people
enter into a union and immediately start fighting over issues that had
existed all along, such as property acquired separately. How such
property will be owned, and more importantly how it will be used are
important areas of negotiations. Another interesting aspect of this is
where there are ex-partners in the picture, and who may have reasons to
stake a claim on either of you. It makes sense in my view to effectively
close that chapter by negotiating a safe exit, whatever that may mean
in that instance.
Power play
Power play is the final approach, and it involves
flexing of muscles where necessary to make things happen, as the
government in power is doing right now. This must be seen in light of
all the other processes we’ve discussed, and is based on the assumption
that there will be need for power play for some things to happen. That
need arises when one is confident that he or she has done all that could
have been done, and sufficient ground has been covered already. In
other words, it must be a last resort, not the modus operandi.
I find this of particular importance when dealing
with categories of people such as relatives who may be opposed to your
relationship. When you’re convinced you’ve made the right choice, have
attempted to lobby and negotiate and have failed, I think it’s time to
move on. And yes, you have the power to make that decision because after
all, you are the one who will live with the consequences.
Let me conclude by saying that this process is not
linear, but cyclical. There should always be room for review depending
on the circumstances.
The writer is a counsellor. Do you have a question? Write to skirunga@yahoo.com
Why perfecting visual approach landing is necessary for pilots
The Asiana Airline plane that crash landed in the US. Speculation has
centred on whether this was a badly managed visual approach.
Photo/AFP
Last week, an Asiana Airlines Boeing 777-200 arrived at San Francisco after a scheduled ten-hour flight from Seoul.
The weather at the time of arrival was good, but
the instrument landing system— specifically the part that provides
vertical guidance —had been declared unserviceable. Consequently the
air traffic controllers cleared the plane for a visual approach to
runway 28L.
This routine approach, however, ended in tragedy when the airliner touched down short of the runway.
The plane hit an edge — shearing off the wheels
and the tail section, skidded along the ground and finally burst into
flames. Amazingly, only three people died.
While it’s still early in the investigation,
speculation has centred on whether this was a badly managed visual
approach worsened by a misunderstanding on the operation of the auto
throttle.
With a visual approach, you look outside the
window, determine where you want to go and fly the plane there; It’s how
we all initially learn how to fly.
Instrument flying relies on navigation aids. By
not referencing visual cues, you are able to land in poor weather,
relying on your instruments to guide you to a point where you can see
the runway.
Unlike a car, a plane does not simply turn; it
banks. This bank changes the heading, which in turn takes you to your
preferred point; it’s a little bit like reversing a car, only more
complex.
On the vertical front, you have to point the nose
at a point just before the runway if you want the plane to go to your
visual aiming point.
Any change in the airplane configuration, or
outside conditions, changes the amount of force you have to apply on the
control column to keep the plane flying where you want it to go.
To round it all off, there is a lot of lag when
flying large planes. The jet engines take about eight seconds to spool
up from idle to full power, and any control inputs will take some time
before being reflected in the aircraft flight path.
All this time, a pilot is also supposed to monitor
the speed displayed inside the cockpit. Once a plane slows down beyond a
certain speed, it stalls and becomes a large rock.
To make it easier on the pilots, manufacturers have made some improvements on their planes.
Fly by wire controls, such as those on the 777,
have made flying significantly easier by eliminating most of these
extraneous forces.
Flight directors, horizontal and vertical bars on the displays, free the pilot from having to judge all those parameters.
Kenya Defence Forces officers injured in Kismayu explosion
Updated Thursday, July 18th 2013 at 16:40 GMT +3
Somalia: Three Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) personnel were injured in an explosion during their normal patrols within Kismayu area, Somalia.
Two other Somali civilians also suffered minor injuries and are receiving treatment at an AMISOM medical facility in Kismayu.
“The Chief of the Defence Forces, General Julius Karangi strongly condemns the attacks aimed at undermining the gains by AMISOM forces,” said a statement from the KDF headquarters.
Gen Karangi re- affirmed KDF’s efforts to protect and support the people of Somalia as they rebuild their country
KDF are under AMISOM in Somalia and have been in operation there since October 2011.
The offensive was launched following a spade of kidnappings of foreigners from Kenya blamed on the militant group.
The Kenyan and Somali governments accuse the militant group Alshabaab of being behind growing insecurity along the common border of the two countries.
Meanwhile, panic gripped residents of Mlango Kubwa in Nairobi Thursday after a device resembling an Improvised Explosive Device was found in the area.
According to police, the device was discovered in the afternoon by passers-by who informed the police.
Area police Chief Samuel Anampiu said the device was detonated by bomb experts from the CID headquarters.
World's Oldest Mum Gives Birth At 70
 |
According to the mirror, the world's oldest mum has hit back at critics who blasted her for giving birth aged 70 - claiming it has actually helped her live LONGER.
Rajo Devi Lohan hit the headlines in 2008 when she gave birth to daughter Naveen following controversial IVF treatment.
Now 74, Rajo, who nearly died as a result of complications following her pregnancy, has vowed to live long enough to see her five-year-old girl marry.
"The only reason I am still alive in spite of my illness is Naveen," she said.
"She is a gift to me from God and until I get her married I cannot afford to die. I will get her married when she turns 15-years-old, but until then I simply cannot die.”
Rajo, who lives with Naveen in the remote village of Hissar, India, her husband Ballo and his second, younger wife Umi, was so desperate to have a child she took out loans to pay for the £2,000 IVF treatment.
When the baby was born, many questioned whether it was morally right for a pensioner to have children, while also suggesting it is detrimental to the health of an OAP.
And their doubts appeared to be justified when Rajo fell gravely ill, almost dying from post-birth complications related to her IVF treatment.
But after battling back, Rajo has even outlived her doctor who guided her through the process, and she puts it all down to having something to live for - daughter Naveen.
Rajo said: "When Naveen was born the Doctor had asked me to take complete bed rest but I did not listen to him and that?s why my health got so bad.
"I am not used to resting and that?s why I could not help myself but work even after she was born. For me work is what I have done all my life.
"But I am feeling much better now. The doctor took very good care of me, but unfortunately he has since died. He spent a lot of money on my medical expenditure, to help me get a child.
"When I used to look around and see children, my heart felt sad that I couldn't have one - I desperately wanted to have a child of my own.
"Everyone celebrated when she was born. The villagers were very happy and every one came to see her.
United Kingdom to probe Huawei staff's role at cybersecurity centre
Updated Thursday, July 18th 2013 at 16:02 GMT +3 The UK government has confirmed it is to review Huawei's involvement in a cybersecurity centre.
The news follows a report by parliament's intelligence committee which raised concerns that staff working at the base in Oxfordshire were employed by the Chinese firm.
US politicians have claimed that the company posed a threat because of links to China's government and military.
The allegations are based, in part, on the fact that the company's founder, Ren Zhengfei, was a former member of the People's Liberation Army.
But Huawei has strongly denied having close ties to the Chinese state and has stressed that it is 98.6%-per-cent-owned by its employees.
Although the firm has been prevented from bidding for many US infrastructure contracts, it has been active in the UK after striking a multi-billion pound deal to provide networking equipment to BT in 2005.
A spokeswoman for Huawei highlighted the fact that the government has said it is confident that UK networks using the firm's equipment "operated to a high standard of security and integrity".
She added that her company supported the decision to carry out a review.
Trade links
The UK's Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) raised concerns about the company's involvement in the Cyber Security Evaluations Centre in Banbury, Oxfordshire, last month.
"While we recognise that there are some benefits associated with the current staffing arrangements for the Cell, these do not, in our opinion, outweigh the risks of Huawei effectively policing themselves," its report read.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter plans to move 2022 World Cup
Updated Thursday, July 18th 2013 at 15:37 GMT +3 Fifa president Sepp Blatter is determined to switch the 2022 World Cup to the winter because of the intense Qatar summer heat.
The head of world football's governing body is planning discussions over the change with his executive committee.
Blatter said: "The executive committee will certainly follow my proposal. Then we will have dealt with it for good."
Blatter will hold talks with Fifa's executive committee in October after medical evidence highlighted the dangers of playing games in temperatures that average 40C in June and can reach 50C.
The heat dips to an average of 20C during the winter months.
The host nation is planning to play games in air-conditioned stadiums, but Blatter said: "The Fifa World Cup must be a festival of the people, but, for it to be such a festival, you can't play football in the summer.
"You can cool down the stadiums, but you can't cool down the whole country and you can't simply cool down the ambience of a World Cup.
"The players must be able to play in the best conditions to play a good World Cup."
Moving the World Cup to the winter would significantly impact on the European leagues.
Blatter insists it would only affect one season, but the Premier League fear fixtures could be disrupted across Europe for three seasons
"The Premier League's view remains unchanged," a spokesman said. "We are opposed to the concept of a winter World Cup for very obvious practical reasons that would impact on all of European domestic football."
19 yr Kenyan girl to open Hacker Academy after US visa decline
Martha Chumo is on an ambitious path to establish Kenya’s first exclusive coding academy.
CNN yesterday featured a story of 19 year old Martha Chumo who has unbridled determination and ambition for her age.
Chumo is clearly intelligent. She was at the top of her class in her high school and was waiting to join the University of Nairobi to study Medicine when she got interested in programming.
“Learning code became my obsession. In June 2012, I took the little I had saved and bought a computer, installed Ubuntu and quit my internship,” Chumo told Code Academy in an earlier interview.
She spent hours at iHub learning and interacting with the community members and within a short period she was conversant with Ruby on Rails programming language.
“Programming opened an unknown world to me. I was planning on going to medical school, like most top-students in Kenya do. Now I’m taking a year off to explore software development. I’m especially excited about the world of open source software.”
Two months ago, Chumo applied and was accepted to the renowned US-based Hacker School, where upcoming programmers are enrolled for three months to write code, learn new languages and share industry insights.
iHub Nairobi
Happy that her travel costs had been taken care of, Chumo’s only other requirement was have US visa processed.
But the US embassy did not share her enthusiasm. Her profile – single, young girl, not in school – scored low and did not show sufficient “social ties” to Kenya according to the US visa section.
You would have thought the visa denial would have put discouraged the 19 year old but that only served to redirect her energy to a bigger dream.
“I thought if I can’t go to hacker school, let me try to bring the school to me,” Chumo told CNN.
She turned to the same crowdsourcing fund raising site with plans to start her own developers’ school in Nairobi.
Chumo says that, similar to Hacker School, Nairobi’s dev school will run for three months and be free of charge for participants. Its goal is to equip young programmers from across East Africa with valuable skills and help them build exciting new technology for the continent.
Barely a month after she launched her bid to start Nairobi Dev School, she has secured space for the school and managed to raise $12,000 out of a $50,000 target.
“In some way, it was a good thing that they didn’t let me go to Hacker School.”
Source: CNN and CodeAcademy
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga regarded Kenneth Matiba, Mwai Kibaki as political novices
Updated Thursday, July 18th 2013 at 10:35 GMT +3 Kenya: The doyen of Kenyan opposition politics the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga was not a spiteful man. But he never held his cool when it came to former Ford-Asili leader, Kenneth Matiba. This was especially after a disjointed opposition lost the 1992 elections to Kanu.
They were whitewashed by Kanu in the elections. It seemed Jaramogi never forgave Matiba for the split. On July 18, 1993, The Standard on Sunday splashed a story titled; Odinga dismisses Matiba. It quoted Jaramogi referring to Matiba as ‘a political novice who was leading an infant party’.
“He at the same time said his political acumen could not be compared with DP’s Mwai Kibaki. Mr Odinga said he is the one who persuaded Mr Kibaki to quit his teaching job at Makerere University and take up the job of Executive Officer of Kanu in 1960,” reported the paper.
By referring to Matiba as a political novice and his party, Ford-Asili as an infant entity, Jaramogi could have given in to emotions.
Party disunity
He was angry at the fact that the combined opposition votes in 1992 presidential election was more than what former President Moi garnered, but they still lost due to disunity, which was blamed on Matiba.
Having been humiliated at the first multi-party elections in 1992, the opposition was humbled. Jaramogi seemed to have realised the only way to beat Kanu was for them ‘to stick together to survive, or be hanged separately’, to use the late Kijana Wamalwa’s words.
But Matiba was unrelenting. In the 1992 General Election Ford-Asili won 32 seats against Ford-Kenya’s 30 to become the second largest party and also the Official Opposition.
After defections and subsequent by-elections where it lost seats to Kanu, FORD Asili remained with only 23 seats by 1994. This saw Ford-Kenya became the Official Opposition party.
But even after defections, Ford-Asili and Ford Kenya had an even number of parliamentarians. The rift then ensued on whether Ford-Asili should still retain its identity as the Official Opposition party.
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