Colombia becomes new hub for human smuggling into US
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Sunday, February 28, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
FOUR Somalis who charged migrants as much as £1,000 in a "cash for citizenship" exams scam were jailed yesterday.
The men had set up the Home Office-approved centre running Life In The UK tests helping people gain British passports.
They accepted tens of thousands of pounds in bribes from desperate applicants - then got staff to sit the exams instead.
But it was realised that the centre's pass rate was 84 per cent - 18 per cent higher than the national average.
Jail ... Abdi Yusuf
Jail ... Abdi Yusuf
When police raided the City Wide Learning Centre in Sheffield, South Yorks, they found seven tests running on computers with no applicants there.
One Turkish man who had failed the £34 test five times paid more than £1,000 and was handed a pass certificate.
Others paid between £200 and £400.
The centre issued more than 5,000 certificates between October 2005 and February 2007.
Brothers Mohammed Yousif, 34, and Abdi Rashid Yusuf, 37, were each jailed for 3½ years.
Another brother, Mubarak Yusuf, 28, got 15 months.
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2867597/Somalis-jailed-in-British-citizenship-test-scam.html#ixzz0gaFHnYaO
Cousin Mustafa Yassin got 2½ years.
After the investigation, 3,500 applicants who had "passed" were invited to sit a re-test - but only 849 agreed.
Judge Michael Murphy told Sheffield Crown Court: "If the people running the tests can't be trusted, who can?"
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2867597/Somalis-jailed-in-British-citizenship-test-scam.html#ixzz0gaFrRGUE
The men had set up the Home Office-approved centre running Life In The UK tests helping people gain British passports.
They accepted tens of thousands of pounds in bribes from desperate applicants - then got staff to sit the exams instead.
But it was realised that the centre's pass rate was 84 per cent - 18 per cent higher than the national average.
Jail ... Abdi Yusuf
Jail ... Abdi Yusuf
When police raided the City Wide Learning Centre in Sheffield, South Yorks, they found seven tests running on computers with no applicants there.
One Turkish man who had failed the £34 test five times paid more than £1,000 and was handed a pass certificate.
Others paid between £200 and £400.
The centre issued more than 5,000 certificates between October 2005 and February 2007.
Brothers Mohammed Yousif, 34, and Abdi Rashid Yusuf, 37, were each jailed for 3½ years.
Another brother, Mubarak Yusuf, 28, got 15 months.
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2867597/Somalis-jailed-in-British-citizenship-test-scam.html#ixzz0gaFHnYaO
Cousin Mustafa Yassin got 2½ years.
After the investigation, 3,500 applicants who had "passed" were invited to sit a re-test - but only 849 agreed.
Judge Michael Murphy told Sheffield Crown Court: "If the people running the tests can't be trusted, who can?"
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2867597/Somalis-jailed-in-British-citizenship-test-scam.html#ixzz0gaFrRGUE
Somali woman in London wins EU case to claim benefits
Somali woman in London wins EU case to claim benefits
Nimco Hassan Ibrahim
Two of Mrs Ibrahim's four children go to school in Harrow
A Somali woman with children in London schools has won a test case to claim benefits even if she is "a burden on the social assistance system".
Nimco Hassan Ibrahim took her case to the European Court of Justice when she was turned down for housing benefit by Harrow Council in north-west London.
The judges ruled that a parent with children "in education in the host member state has a right of residence".
The judges added that Mrs Ibrahim's right is "not conditional".
The judges ruled: "A parent caring for the child of a migrant worker who is in education in the host Member State has a right of residence in that State.
"That right is not conditional on the parent having sufficient resources not to become a burden on the social assistance system."
'Never self-sufficient'
Mrs Ibrahim married her husband, who is a Danish citizen, in Ethiopia and moved to London to join her husband - named in court as Mr Yusuf - in 2003.
He worked for five months before claiming incapacity benefits but when the benefits were stopped in 2004 he moved to Denmark.
His wife and four children, all Danish nationals, remained in Harrow in temporary accommodation and two of her children attend state schools in the borough.
Mrs Ibrahim, who is separated from her husband, "was never self-sufficient, and depends entirely on social assistance," the court heard.
"She does not have comprehensive sickness insurance cover and relies on the National Health Service," the judgment added.
'Floodgates issue'
Her initial plea for housing assistance was rejected on the ground that only people with a right of residence under European Union (EU) law could apply, and neither she not Mr Yusuf were at the time considered a resident in the UK under EU law.
But the Luxembourg court said parents caring for the children of migrant workers, and resident in EU countries are covered under EU rules on freedom of movement, including those who cannot support themselves.
Harrow Council said it will study the implications of the ruling.
Councillor Barry Macleod-Cullinane said: "We have a floodgates issue.
"It has set a legal precedent that people who have not contributed to the country's benefit systems can now actually qualify to get benefits when their children are in schools, so it opens the doors for more migrants to come in to the country."
Nimco Hassan Ibrahim
Two of Mrs Ibrahim's four children go to school in Harrow
A Somali woman with children in London schools has won a test case to claim benefits even if she is "a burden on the social assistance system".
Nimco Hassan Ibrahim took her case to the European Court of Justice when she was turned down for housing benefit by Harrow Council in north-west London.
The judges ruled that a parent with children "in education in the host member state has a right of residence".
The judges added that Mrs Ibrahim's right is "not conditional".
The judges ruled: "A parent caring for the child of a migrant worker who is in education in the host Member State has a right of residence in that State.
"That right is not conditional on the parent having sufficient resources not to become a burden on the social assistance system."
'Never self-sufficient'
Mrs Ibrahim married her husband, who is a Danish citizen, in Ethiopia and moved to London to join her husband - named in court as Mr Yusuf - in 2003.
He worked for five months before claiming incapacity benefits but when the benefits were stopped in 2004 he moved to Denmark.
His wife and four children, all Danish nationals, remained in Harrow in temporary accommodation and two of her children attend state schools in the borough.
Mrs Ibrahim, who is separated from her husband, "was never self-sufficient, and depends entirely on social assistance," the court heard.
"She does not have comprehensive sickness insurance cover and relies on the National Health Service," the judgment added.
'Floodgates issue'
Her initial plea for housing assistance was rejected on the ground that only people with a right of residence under European Union (EU) law could apply, and neither she not Mr Yusuf were at the time considered a resident in the UK under EU law.
But the Luxembourg court said parents caring for the children of migrant workers, and resident in EU countries are covered under EU rules on freedom of movement, including those who cannot support themselves.
Harrow Council said it will study the implications of the ruling.
Councillor Barry Macleod-Cullinane said: "We have a floodgates issue.
"It has set a legal precedent that people who have not contributed to the country's benefit systems can now actually qualify to get benefits when their children are in schools, so it opens the doors for more migrants to come in to the country."
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Hope and support those who are not committed to war
Professor Samatar "Hope and support those who are not committed to war like Somaliland and puntland"
Friday, February 19, 2010
Super-jumbo comes to Africa
Super-jumbo comes to Africa
Feb 18, 2010 11:40 PM | By CHARL DU PLESSIS
Passengers who arrived in Johannesburg on Air France flight AF990 made history. It was the first time the massive A380 "super-jumbo" has brought passengers to Africa.
Current Font Size:
A REAL BIG DEAL: Air France's A380 super-jumbo arrives at OR Tambo International yesterday. The airport widened runways for the massive aircraft, which can carry more than 500 passengers Picture: VIRGINIE VALDOIS/AIR FRANCE
A REAL BIG DEAL: Air France's A380 super-jumbo arrives at OR Tambo International yesterday. The airport widened runways for the massive aircraft, which can carry more than 500 passengers Picture: VIRGINIE VALDOIS/AIR FRANCE
The A380, which can carry 538 passengers and 22 crew, is the largest passenger aircraft yet made. You could park five buses end-to-end on its 80m wingspan, and it is more than double the length of the Wright brothers' first flight of about 36m.
Excited members of the public packed the viewing galleries at OR Tambo International to see the airliner. Kieran Bell, 16, who wants to be a pilot, told The Times he'd "watched everything on TV about it and now it's finally coming here and I get to see it". He would not say whether he had skipped school for the occasion.
Airport manager Chris Hlekane said the runways and taxiways had to be widened to accommodate the aircraft.
Feb 18, 2010 11:40 PM | By CHARL DU PLESSIS
Passengers who arrived in Johannesburg on Air France flight AF990 made history. It was the first time the massive A380 "super-jumbo" has brought passengers to Africa.
Current Font Size:
A REAL BIG DEAL: Air France's A380 super-jumbo arrives at OR Tambo International yesterday. The airport widened runways for the massive aircraft, which can carry more than 500 passengers Picture: VIRGINIE VALDOIS/AIR FRANCE
A REAL BIG DEAL: Air France's A380 super-jumbo arrives at OR Tambo International yesterday. The airport widened runways for the massive aircraft, which can carry more than 500 passengers Picture: VIRGINIE VALDOIS/AIR FRANCE
The A380, which can carry 538 passengers and 22 crew, is the largest passenger aircraft yet made. You could park five buses end-to-end on its 80m wingspan, and it is more than double the length of the Wright brothers' first flight of about 36m.
Excited members of the public packed the viewing galleries at OR Tambo International to see the airliner. Kieran Bell, 16, who wants to be a pilot, told The Times he'd "watched everything on TV about it and now it's finally coming here and I get to see it". He would not say whether he had skipped school for the occasion.
Airport manager Chris Hlekane said the runways and taxiways had to be widened to accommodate the aircraft.
Happiness wards off heart disease, study suggests
Being happy and staying positive may help ward off heart disease, a study suggests।
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Dubai police hunt Hamas killers
| Dubai police hunt Hamas killers |  |  |  |
| Tuesday, 16 February 2010 21:02 |
| Dubai's chief of police says an 11-member hit squad carrying European passports was responsible for last month's murder of a prominent Hamas member. Mahmud al-Mabhuh was found dead in his luxury hotel room. Police have said they will issue arrest warrants soon. Two Palestinians suspected of providing logistical support have also been detained. Al Jazeera's Ayman Mohyeldin reports from Gaza. (Feb 16, २०१० |
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Bus driver ‘stopped vehicle to pray’
Bus driver ‘stopped vehicle to pray’
TfL reminds Muslim workers of policy after delayed passengers complain
PM newsdesk
Publication date: 9 February 2010
Source:
PM Online
The driver of the number 24 bus in Gospel Oak pulled over without warning, rolled out a fluorescent jacket as a makeshift mat and performed a five-minute prayer as passengers looked on. The engine was kept running and nobody was able to leave the bus during the incident as the driver was blocking the door.
One of the passengers who complained, Gayle Griffiths, described the incident as “bizarre and aggravating”.
“We are delayed often enough as it is in London. We live in a multicultural society but there is a time and a place for prayer and the middle of a journey with a busload of passengers is not it,” she told a newspaper.
Transport for London has apologised to all the passengers for the delay to their journey and said that the driver, who is from a Somalian background and new to his role, has been warned that his action was not appropriate.
A spokesman said: “The bus company – London General – has had a word with the driver as this is not something that should be happening.”
Muslim drivers have been reminded that they should pray during rest periods between journeys to avoid delays, he added.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Peace Mapping in Somalia Connecting Somali and International Peace Mapping
Peace Mapping in Somalia
Connecting Somali and International Peace Mapping
January 28 2010, 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
watch the Video
http://www.wilsoncenter.org/ondemand/bridge-video.cfm?media_link=AFR/AFR_20100128.wmv&title=Video%20of%20Event%20%28Windows%20Media%20Player%29&itemid=589581
Since the Somali state collapsed more than 18 years ago, the international community has struggled with the challenges of state building. While local actors in Somaliland and Puntland have achieved a working consensus on governance issues, South/Central Somalia has experienced continued disintegration.
The Africa Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center and Creative Associates are pleased to co-sponsor the unveiling of two studies on Somalia in the United States by Interpeace, and Conciliation Resources, respectively:
Peace Mapping study of local, regional and national level peace initiatives
and
Accord 21: Whose peace is it anyway? Connecting Somali and International Peacemaking
The reports provide the international community, in partnership with Somalis, with a road map for future engagement, which involves a highly participatory and inclusionary process throughout society requiring patience and a deep understanding that there are no quick fixes.
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