Commentary

Dr Karanja Says:

December 27th, 2006 at 3:43 pm e

Death penalty is the wrong way to go. In Norway, death penalty is prohibited and it is the policy of the government not to encourage it in other countries. In fact, death penalty is a ground for not expelling a person from Norway to a country that practices it. Mullah Krekar enjoys stay in Norway courtesy that reason only. It is not politically correct for APN therefore to advocate death penalty even in other countries. True the dilemma should be addressed but with lesser drastic measures such as life imprisonment or other harsher sentences.

Dr Karanja is reacting to APN’s story below whereby we are calling for death sentence as punishment for spreading HIV/Aids intentionally!:

• Introduce death sentence in all countries to deal with those spreading HIV/Aids intentionally!

Posted by africanpress on 27th December 2006

Kenyan media has reported that, “many churches are compelling couples to take HIV tests before they wed, but their members are divided as to whether this will help curb the spread of Aids or perpetuate stigma.”

This is stigmatisation, worst even to imagine. God’s people discriminating against those with the disease. It is reported that one cannot be allowed to wed unless a certificate is produced that clears one from not having the disease.

Does the church play a role of being God the creator? Such church leaders should have their registrations withdrawn by the government.

In the issue in question, the church turned away the couple during the day of the wedding because they were unable to produce a certificate.

With all the quests ready for the day, with all the expenses that has gone to the preparation of the wedding, the church did not care to help the couple.

This takes us to ask or even demand that the church leaders themselves should be tested. And I presume some of them are not as clean as they may pretend.

The couple that was turned away should sue teh church leaders for embarrassment caused and expenses lost in the whole saga.

It is reported that, “Pastors at the World Harvest International Church, Nairobi, turned away the couple on their wedding day for failing to present documents confirming that they had taken a HIV test. Pastor Moses Tumwine refused to preside over the wedding unless the couple fulfilled the church’s regulation, which demands they take the test and disclose their status.” Justifying his case the Pastor said, “We demand that Martin and Eunice be tested and we be served with a confirmatory letter to that effect,” adding that, “The church’s regulations stipulate that if one partner tests HIV positive, a wedding cannot take place. Why should we allow people to plunge into trouble? We are trying to fight the spread of Aids,” says Tumwine. “If they want us to join them in holy matrimony, they should go for the test and bring the evidence.”

Well, this is a question most people do not like to be faced with, because they want to avoid it, especially if they are drinkers.

Many people defend the amount of alcohol they drink by using all manners of argumentative methods. Are thery really aware of the dangers that follow alcohol that is consumed on daily basis.

First of all, it destroys their own personal economy. Then those who live in relationship can easily pick up arguments or quarrels due to alcohol and expenditure.

Many argue that some glasses of wine weekly is healthy for us human. What do you tell those whose immune system has been eaten up by diseases like HIV and Aids? Should they also have gallons of red wine yearly to help their health?

We all know alcohol breeds violence in most cases. So how much is good?

Recently, APN was out in a bar and saw total violence where a group of people, after drinking heavily, picked on each other and fought, until blood was shed all over the place.

They threw glasses on each other spilling a lot of blood in the bar. Not seeing where the glasses are landing people continued to throw. Is it not poor judgement after drinking? Are we able to do without alcohol? Would they have done that if they had not drunk alcohol.

Those who fought fiercely was a group of Africans versus Arabs, and no one knows to this date why they fought.

It was Thursday the 21st of December 3 days before Christmas eve. Imagine a fight that lands you in hospital in Christmas season. Is it worth it? Could those who fought have sorted out the problem without going physical?

Alcohol consumption is a clear danger to the society, but it seems the society is not able to deal with it properly, in order to avoid lasting damages alcohol causes to human.

And yet, if policies are put in place to ban alcohol, countries will be faced with economical problems. The business that survives on alcohol manufacture and sales will suffer. The employees in alcohol companies will have to be redundant.

Therefore, we can say there are no easy answer when we discus alcohol and its dangers!

It is important, however, that the public, that’s the grown ups should be role models to the young and impress upon them that alcohol is not good to our health.

By Korir, African Press in Norway, APN

africanpress@chello.no

Making
sense
of
Christmas

Christmas can be a confusing time for many people. Often we have high hopes for the Christmas holiday, but we find it very stressful. There are so many pressures: rushing to buy gifts and their high cost, the stress of meeting relatives, or the opposite – feeling all alone.So sadly, Christmas is a time when problems come into our lives: debt, worry, loneliness, even suicide.

Somehow, it seems that there is something wrong. There is such a big contrast between the way the world spends Christmas, and the religious message which is almost forgotten. How can we make sense of Christmas today?

Mohinder’s true story suggests a way.

Taking the ‘X’ out of Xmas

Mohinder came to England from Punjab, India 26 years ago. He lives in Birmingham, England, with his wife and children, and works as a machine operator.

Whisky bottles

My friends and I stocked up with bottles of whisky and cans of beer well before the festive season, and then went from house to house getting drunk. That is how I used to spend my christmas. I knew it was celebrated to remember the birth of Jesus, but this did not mean much to me.

There had always been despair and frustration in our home. I was always arguing with my wife and there was no real peace or contentment in our lives. My ambition was to earn as much money as I could and get my five children married. I thought I was happy doing this, but deep down inside I was empty and unfulfilled.

My wife upset me
Then about 14 years ago, my wife became a Christian and started attending a local church where the Bible was taught in both English and Punjabi. This really upset me because I thought she had embraced an English god and changed her culture.

My relatives used to ask me why she had turned to a white man’s religion and left her own beliefs. Although I disliked what she had done, I started seeing changes in her life – she became honest in her ways and there was a reality in her faith.

It was not until 1994 that I too found the way to God. I realised what a terrible person I had been and how I had mistreated my wife, my family and other people. I had also cursed God. I realised that in God’s view, my life was wrong: I needed to be right with Him and find His forgiveness.

Real fear
I then began to suffer from real fear, and it was not until I turned my life over to Jesus Christ that I began to overcome this problem. I asked God to forgive me for all that I had done wrong, and that He would give me His power in my life to change me. I read that in the Bible that God promises to those who follow him, a spirit of love, power and a sound mind, not a spirit of fear. This became really true for me.

Christmas has now taken on a new meaning. There is now contentment and real joy in my heart, and there is peace in our home. We no longer argue and fight. Difficulties still come, but I know that Jesus is my friend, and He is able to help me through my problems. Even if I die, there is great hope because I will go to be with Jesus Christ. He can save and help all who trust Him, whether black, white or Asian. That is why Christmas with Christ is special.

Related Christmas story:

• Angered by Norwegian Christmas, Okwaro cancels his refugee status!, African Press listens to his tragic story

By Korir, African Press in Norway, APN

africanpress@chello.no

Lifted

Okwaro’s Christmas disappointment! 

John N. Okwaro came to Norway this year in February. He is a breed of a Ugandan mother Numubasa Nyaringira 45, and a Kenyan father, Omolo Rateng Okwaro 67.

While young, Okwaro whose father hails from Nyakach in Kenya, attended Kisii Secondary school where he acquired his school diploma in the 80′s.

His plan was to become a school teacher, either in Uganda or Kenya on completion of his course as a teacher.

His problems began when his mother decided to take up a teaching job in Nairobi. His parents quarrelled a lot, because of the new developments. His mother had just graduated as a teacher from Kisii Teachers College.

She was offered a job in Nairobi, but this was difficult because Okwaro’s father had a permanent job in Kisii town, and could not simply quit and move with the whole family to Nairobi.

There were also many other considerations. The high cost of living in Nairobi compared to Kisii town.

Due to arguments and fights that erupted in the family home, because the family could not agree on any solution, Okwaro’s father took a new wife Atieno Nyakil, who was working in the family home as a maid, in an effort to force his Ugandan wife to cancel her plans to move to Nairobi.

The threat did not work. She travelled to Nairobi and took up a job as a teacher in Buru Buru Estate, as an employee of the City Council of Nairobi.

Now Okwaro had a big problem. He had to choose whether to live with his father in Kisii or move with the mother to Nairobi!

He finally chose to stay with his father, something he regrets to this day. When the mother moved to Nairobi, it was the start of a process that was to end in divorce.

But worse was to follow. His father worked long hours in his job, and sometimes he had to spend weekends away due to his assignments. At home was Okwaro and the step-mother Atieno.

She was a beauty, young and loved to dance. Whenever her husband, Okwaro’s father, was away on business spending a weekend in Kisumu, Atieno used to take her step-son, Okwaro out to the clubs to enjoy the night-life.

It was not long before they started a secret affair, that later led to Okwaro’s nightmare!

She got pregnant, but did not know whether it was by the husband, Okwaro’s father, or Okwaro, the step-son-turned secret lover.

When the husband discovered she was pregnant, because of the early morning vomiting symptoms, he was overjoyed to become a father again.

His happiness was derived from the fact that his doctor, Nyongesa Nyaribari had advised him not to get married, because he was landing on 67 years, and yet the woman he was getting married to, Atieno Nyakil was 23 years old, only one year older than his son Okwaro. 

The three continued living in the family home. Soon after, a baby girl was born, but to the surprise of the father, the child resembled his son, Okwaro, more than him.

When confronted by the husband, Atieno admitted that she had an affair with the step-son, Okwaro!

Things changed dramatically after the revelation. Okwaro was thrown out of the family home in Kisii. He moved to Nairobi to join his mother.

But that was not to be, because when he arrived in Nairobi, he discovered that his mother was now married to somebody else, and had not informed the new husband that she had a child with another man.

Unfortunately for Okwaro, he was not allowed to live in the mother’s house. He was treated like a stranger and after his first meal, he was asked to leave the house. He asked to stay the night over and he was allowed.

The following morning, after one night in his mother’s house, he left for the streets penniless.

While in Nairobi streets alone ,he met a white man by name Eigil Johansen, who was looking for a cook. Okwaro immediately accepted the offer. The white man was not to pay him anything salary, but he was to get free accommodation of which he happily accepted.

He worked as the white man’s servant for two years. During the last weeks before 2 years had gone, he befriended the white man’s daughter Eli Mona Johansen secretly, as if he had not learnt from his first mistake!

It did not take more than a month, before the white man discovered the affair between his daughter and Okwaro.

Having known that Johansen was a Norwegian from Huseby village, at the outskirts of Oslo, Okwaro decided to go to the Norwegian Embassy in Nairobi to ask for permission to visit Norway. He had acquired a false passport that looked very real!

While processing his request, the embassy decided to check whether Okwaro really worked for a Norwegian family in Nairobi, and lucky for him, when the embassy called the Norwegian man’s house, it was the daughter Okwaro had forbidden affair with, that answered the telephone.

Now things would get better, Okwaro thought. The daughter of the Norwegian man confirmed to the embassy that Okwaro was really working for them, and that he had been given a one month holiday. A holiday he could use the way he wanted.

The Norwegian man’s daughter Mona, decided to help Okwaro out of Kenya to Norway as a tourist. She managed, and okwaro arrived in Norway on February this year 2006.

It  was cold, dreadful and it was not what he expected. He had never seen snow and the weather was so cold that he almost refused to leave the airport area. He had summer T-shirt on and open shoes without socks.

The airport personnel organised warm clothes for him. He then left the airport, and went straight to the Immigration Police to register himself as an asylum seeker. From there, Okwaro was taken to an asylum reception centre in Tanum at the outskirts of Oslo.

After the interview weeks later, and because he narrated how he had been treated by the Norwegian man in Nairobi, with positive backing he received from the man’s daughter Mona, who has since returned to Norway, he was quickly granted his status as a refugee.

The main reason for granting him refugee status, was that he feared for his life if he was returned, because he says the man will kill him. He says the man is angered by the fact that he got the help from his daughter to leave Kenya, and the fact he was aided by the same girl to get residence in Norway.

The girl helped by supporting Okwaro’s claim in his application, a claim that accuses her father of rape while Okwaro worked for the family. According to the statement, the rape happened a number of times at the Norwegian man’s house. This argument gave him asylum in Norway.

First Christmas in Norway! 

Now that he was getting settled, he started looking forward to his first Christmas festivities in the country expecting to participate in parties with loud music, dancing for 3 to 5 days, and joining friends to eat slaughtered cows or goats to thank God for the past year.

What he did not know, was that he was out to deal with his biggest disappointment in the white man’s land!

He was out for his first surprise in Norway! When Christmas days were near, Okwaro went to a local pub in the centre of Oslo, to join people he knew, in order to have a beer and small chat with them.

To his surprise, nobody was talking about where the parties for Christmas was going to take place.

In most places in Africa and especially where he came from, 2 to 3 days before Christmas, people plan publicly what to do, where and with how many people in attendance. They will sit in pubs and discus which family has the responsibility to slaughter cows or goats for Christmas. It is joy and festive for all.

This was not to be in Norway, and Okwaro heard nothing. He decided to wait until Christmas day. For him Christmas day in Africa is on the 25th of December and he planed to appear as a surprise.

Okwaro decided to go to the same pubs on Christmas day, only to find that people were not there, the pubs were very empty, because the people he knew were home, tired after celebrating Christmas a day earlier, on 24th December, the Christmas eve.

He left the pub sad and promised himself to get to the bottom of it in order to know why he was left out.

When he met the people he knew on the 26th of December, he asked for reasons as to why he was left out. He wanted to know why his friends chose not to inform him that the big day in Norway is the 24th and not 25th December.

Okwaro was told that the tradition in Norway has it that it is only family members that celebrate on the 24th, and give gifts to one another. Outsiders are not welcome into homes on such a day.

To his amazement, his friends, the Africans had also been swallowed by the Norwegian way of celebrating Christmas. Okwaro has told APN that he cannot imagine such a boring Christmas. A Christmas only for family members? He murmured in a questioning tone…..

Okwaro who does not have any family in the country, would have to stay indoors every 24th of December, just like many Africans without families do every Christmas, a thing they have had no choice but get used to, and accept because there is no other way out of it. That is tradition!

Today, the morning of 27th December, Okwaro decided to act, and to many in a very surprising manner! He worked into the police station in Oslo, where he asked to speak with the officer in charge. And when asked what the problem was, he simply answered loud and clear – CHRISTMAS!

The officer, asked him what he wanted and to the officer’s surprise, Okwaro answered that he wanted a ticket immediately, because he wanted to travel to Africa where he comes from, so that he can join his people and celebrate the last days of Christmas there.

The Police told him that Christmas was now over, and that angered Okwaro, who reacted by slapping the officer on the face, while telling the him how important loud and festive Christmas was for him psychologically, and insisted he was not leaving the station until he was given a ticket to leave the country. It was disaster to miss such an important festive season, he told the officer.

The officers bungled him in handcuffs into the cell, and started to prepare charges against him for slapping a public officer.

When ten minutes later, he was questioned by the police, they realised that Okwaro’s problem was really serious. The way he takes Christmas was different from the way Norwegians do.

They realised it was traumatic for him to have missed his first Christmas festive season, and that had caused him psychological stress. A psychiatrist was called in to help, and he concluded that Okwaro was a danger to himself if he misses another Christmas festive season. He was released after medication to calm him down.

They decided to release him from custody, but told him that getting asylum in Norway is difficult, but that it was even more difficult to get rid of one after you are given the status.

Now, Okwaro who wants to leave the country, has to prove to the immigration authorities that his life will not be in danger if allowed to return to his home country.

For him to prove it may become difficult, because the police would like to have a written confirmation from the Norwegian in Kenya, admitting that, if he met Okwaro in Nairobi, he will not rape him again.

 To get such a confirmation will be difficult, because if the Norwegian man gives such a written admission it can be used against him, charged with the offence of raping ”unwilling person”. And could easily be deported from Kenya.

Okwaro’s problem, therefore, may not end that easily. He may have to face yet another quiet, sad, psychologically stressful and lonely Christmas in Norway next year!

It is a very sad development that Norway has not understood as yet that many of the new citizens have cultures that need to be understood, especially during festive seasons like Christmas and Easter.

There are many Norwegians as well, who face problems of loneliness like Okwaro, during festive seasons. The elderly generation is left alone in flats in towns and some even die of loneliness.

The politicians should be more involved in finding a lasting solution that is inclusive of all cultures and traditions.

Related story:

• Making sense of Christmas! Thinking of Mr Okwaro’s Story and similarity?

By Korir, African Press in Norway, APN

africanpress@chello.no

Commentary by a reader a question! 

——————————–

honey(*_*… Says:
December 27th, 2006 at 8:47 am e

honey(*_*…

About Me
Member since: November 21, 2006
Total points: 324 (Level 2)
Points earned this week: 13
Total answers: 42

Best answers: 15 (36% of Total) Questions to guys…I was really curious?
When you are in a bathroom, and have to urinate and empty your bowels, do you use the one where you stand up first, then go into a stall? Or do you just go into a stall in the first place? Because you can’t empty your bowels standing up, right? Is it embarrassing to go into a stall in a public restroom?

This is kind of a silly question, I know. But I asked some of my guy-friends and all they would do is laugh, and avoid the question.
I didn’t mean to offend anyone (if I did) and you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to. I was really curious…because there’s only stalls in a women’s bathroom….and women just sit! Can guys sit and do both?

Additional question!

I was reading some answer…so guys can urinate sitting down? That’s possible?

Honey is reacting to our story below:

• Should guys sit while peeing in toilets?

Posted by africanpress on December 23rd, 2006

This was a very serious debate in a school in Norway after the headmaster directed that all boys in the school must sit while peeing in the school toilets.

Many parents who had boy students in the school were angered and protested.

Many joint the debate that lasted for many days. Some restaurants started to support the idea and wanted the male guests to start peeing while seated in restaurant toilets!

One male debate participant reacted to the seating arrangement very positively, even going ahead to suggest courses for men and boys to be educated on how to sit while peeing.

Read it for yourself and if you want, you may have your say.

_____________________ 

This may sound as a joke to many, but it is areal problem when men and boys pee carelessly setting drops of urine on the toilet seat and someone comes and cannot sit on the toilet seat at all!

Imagine you enter a toilet after taking drinks in a hotel. Then carelessly you sit on the toilet without checking the seat, only to feel the wet seat on your behind…… someone careless was there before you. If he had sat peeing, you would not have the discomfort sitting on his urine!

This is a serious issue and men and boys should think about when in toilets! Think of the next person coming in after you.

Maybe Ali Emami’s article above is a good idea after all! Men and boys to start sitting and do the needful!

By Korir, African Press in Norway, APN

africanpress@chello.no

Source.fædrelandsvennen.no

This entry was posted on Saturday, December 23rd, 2006 at 12:17 pm and is filed under A>News and politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. Edit this entry.

7 Responses to “Should guys sit while peeing in toilets?”

1.  honey(*_*… Says:
   December 27th, 2006 at 8:47 am ehoney(*_*…About Me
   Member since: November 21, 2006
   Total points: 324 (Level 2)
   Points earned this week: 13
   Total answers: 42Best answers: 15 (36% of Total) Questions to guys…I was really curious?
   When you are in a bathroom, and have to urinate and empty your bowels, do you use the one where you stand up first, then go into a stall? Or do you just go into a stall in the first place? Because you can’t empty your bowels standing up, right? Is it embarrassing to go into a stall in a public restroom?This is kind of a silly question, I know. But I asked some of my guy-friends and all they would do is laugh, and avoid the question.
   I didn’t mean to offend anyone (if I did) and you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to. I was really curious…because there’s only stalls in a women’s bathroom….and women just sit! Can guys sit and do both?

   Additional Details

   1 hour ago
   I was reading some answer…so guys can urinate sitting down? That’s possible?

2.  stallion1… Says:
   December 27th, 2006 at 8:48 am estallion1…About Me
   Member since: June 08, 2006
   Total points: 11,505 (Level 6)
   Points earned this week: 119
   Total answers: 4426Best answers: 227 (5% of Total)
   well,iam a guy and if i have to do both at the same time,i use the toilet and do both the same time.
3.  joteropr Says:
   December 27th, 2006 at 8:49 am ejoteroprAbout Me
   Member since: July 26, 2006
   Total points: 3,605 (Level 4)
   Points earned this week:
   Total answers:Best answers:
   I always use the stand urinals, I don’t have to seat to pee. Some times if I see that the person next to me looks weird I rather go to the toilet, but don’t seat, don’t have to.Is possible, but Why to do that if we can do it standing?
4.  Chris C Says:
   December 27th, 2006 at 8:50 am eChris CAbout Me
   Member since: June 07, 2006
   Total points: 5,044 (Level 5)
   Points earned this week:
   Total answers:Best answers:
   One toilet, two functions… both at the same time.
5.  Jen C Says:
   December 27th, 2006 at 8:51 am eJen CAbout Me
   Member since: October 12, 2006
   Total points: 632 (Level 2)
   Points earned this week:
   Total answers:Best answers:
   I think that’s pretty nasty myself, and I have asked guys too? Most say they really don’t give a …. who’s standing next to them, they don’t bother looking! I find that a little hard to believe? Could you imagine us women? As male and females we are miles apart on just about every issue, yet we come together so easy! Go figure?
6.  The Doctor Says:
   December 27th, 2006 at 8:52 am eThe DoctorAbout Me
   Member since: December 09, 2006
   Total points: 788 (Level 2)
   Points earned this week:
   Total answers:Best answers:
   It doesn’t really matter. I usually pee standing up.
7.  BluLizard Says:
   December 27th, 2006 at 8:53 am eBluLizardAbout Me
   Member since: October 23, 2006
   Total points: 1,209 (Level 3)
   Points earned this week: 30
   Total answers: 396
   Best answers: 22 (6% of Total)Urinal for number 1 and stall for 2 and hahah after reading your details yes we can do both we just got to make sure we tuck “everything” in first. 
8. Andy Says:
   December 27th, 2006 at 3:46 pm eAndy

   About Me
   Member since: April 05, 2006
   Total points: 2,611 (Level 4)
   Points earned this week: 35

   Total answers: 841
   Best answers: 40 (5% of Total)
   If I just have to urinate I will use the urinal if I absolutely can’t wait until I get home. ( I try to avoid using public restrooms.) If I have the empty my bowels and urinate at the same time I just use the stall. I will sit down and urinate and empty my bowels so that way I can do them both at once so I don’t have to spend anymore time in the public restroom. No, you can’t stand up to empty your bowels. Well you can but that would be really messy don’t you think? Yes, guys can sit to do both but when you just have to urinate we just stand up. It’s easier quicker, and that’s just what guys do. Well mainly because we can and society expects us to. It’s not really all that embarrassing to go into a stall in a public restroom. If you have to go there is nothing that you can do about it and if there is a line, to keep the line moving, you have to use the stall if that is the next the available to using a urinal.

   Source(s):

   I’m a guy.

By Korir, African Press in Norway, APN

africanpress@chello.no

Source. Yahoo!

<Former President Daniel arap Moi

Nairobi City Council has honoured the former President Daniel arap Moi and  late president Jomo Kenyatta’s wife Mama Ngina Kenyatta. The two were among 23 national heroes honoured and given the ‘freedom of the city’ status.  

When one is honoured the way the City has done, “this means that all vehicles belonging to the beneficiary members will be exempted from parking fees within the City and that they will be given preferential treatment in any services provided by the council. They will not be queuing to be served within any City authority offices and will be incorporated as honourable members in all City Hall’s official functions.”

This is a very interesting development. They will have free pass and can do whatever they like within the city limits. They may even decide to break the City by-laws if they choose to. What a remarkable honour! The media reports that, “they were all given a council flag as a symbol of honour, a certificate of recognition as a national hero as well as a sculptured key as the symbol of the freedom of the City status.” Among the beneficiaries are, “multipartism crusader Charles Wanyoike Rubia and former Butere Member of Parliament Martin Shikuku.”

<His true identity has been kept secret by the court!

A man suspected to be a Russian spy has been deported  by the Canadians back to his homeland. He had assumed a false identity and lived in Canada for over 10 years while spying for Russia.

The false-named man Paul William Hampel, was, on Tuesday, send out of  Canada. 

According to the BBC, “Canada’s intelligence agency said in court papers it believed the man to be part of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, the successor to the KGB. The man had been arrested trying to leave through Montreal airport on 14 November with a fake birth certificate.”

The Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day has told the media that anyone not obeying Canadian laws is subject to deportation, because such people are considered a threat to the safety of  citizens..

It has been reported that, “the man confessed to being a Russian citizen in court this month. The judge in return allowed his true identity to remain secret. Mr Day said Russia had provided papers to allow the man to return.”

Due to good bilateral relations between Russia and Canada, the minister says the spy act will not cause harm, adding, “We understand that these things go on in the world, the Russians understand that also.”

This is a very strange statement from the minister. It is not a condemnation of spying against his country. He simply says both countries understand that that spying is going on in the world.

It only points in one direction, that Canadians also have spies worldwide., because that is exactly what the minister is saying.

During the court case against the man, court documents indicated that “the man obtained three Canadian passports by fraudulent means.”

It is surprising that the court has decided to keep the man’s identity secret, even after he has accepted that he was a Russian spy.

Why the real name is not made public confirms the fact that Canada and Russia cooperate in some way to spy and exchange information, but that the countries spy also on each other secretly.

The Canadians may be fearing that exposing the Russian spy, they risk loosing a lot. Russia might decide to expel Canadians from the Moscow embassy and expose Canadian spies worldwide.

By Henry Chepkwony, (Carlifornia), for African Press in Norway, APN

africanpress@chello.no

source.bbc

<The Late Gerald Ford dies at 93.

The former president got a stroke 2002, a start of a live in pain and agony, but also because of old age. A soft spoken man, Ford was liked by many, was not a controversial figure during his days in the white house.

As a number two man to Richard Nixon, before Nixon fell out in disgrace from the presidency, Ford was a quiet man, and as vice president, both sides of the house in Capital Hill had good working relationship with him. The same relationship was to continue even after taking over as president from the disgraced Nixon.

It is reported that he, “had become the longest-living US president when he passed 93 years and 121 days, the record held by Ronald Reagan.”

When Richard Nixon resigned the presidency, because of the Watergate scandal in 1974, opportunity arose for Ford to take over. He ruled for just a little over 2 years, before loosing office to Jimmy Carter in 1976.

Serving US President Bush has paid tribute to him with praises that he was a man of “integrity and common sense”.

The late President was born in Omaha, Nebraska. His wife, Betty 88, lived with her husband at Rancho Mirage, east of Los Angeles until his death.

BBC reports that, “the former president suffered ill health this year and he was taken to hospital four times for tests and angioplasty.”

We send our condolences to the Ford family!

By Henry Chepkwony, (California) for African Press in Norway, APN

africanpress@chello.no

source.bbc