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XFactor’s Not So Celebratory 10th Anniversary

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November 29, 2013

XFactor’s Not So Celebratory 10th Anniversary

Last weekend, XFactor celebrated their 10th year anniversary. Contestant Nicholas McDonald also had a celebration of his own as it was his 17th birthday. What better present to have than to not only make it to the quarter finals in the competition but also, to receive a birthday cake by the XFactor team which was brought out by host Dermot O’Leary.

The 3 guys from XFactor’s Rough copy with Sanchez Nelson on the Left and Naomi Harrison (Kaz girlfriend) on the right.

The remaining six contestants put on an amazing show and their fabulous performances raised the roof throughout Saturday evening, well almost! For the third time, 16 year old Tamera Foster forgot her lyrics. Once is acceptable, twice is forgivable, but three times, well, there is just no excuse really, especially when you are so far into the competition. Foster’s performance was off to a good start as she sang ‘ Impossible ‘ by James Arthur, but it took a turn for the worse when she proved it was indeed impossible for her to remember the remaining lyrics to the song. As the crowd in the studio stood watching, the room, that was less than a minute ago filled with applause and screaming fans was silent. Some looked at one another in shock, a few hung their heads in shame and others just stood, staring, trapped in the moment. It was as if for a second everything came to a halt and what we were witnessing was not really happening. However, Foster persevered until the end of her performance and waited to hear the judges comments. ” Don’t worry Tamera, it’s only the third time that you have forgotten your words, you deserve to win, better luck next time hey”.

Said no judge never !

ALSO SEE: Daddy’s Girls: We Really Just Want To Make A Living Making Music.

Gary described Foster’s performance as a car crash ” It’s hard to watch, it’s really hard to watch. I don’t know how to solve this problem. On the live shows, it is excruciating watching a car crash happen”. Whilst Louis began his feedback with a compliment ” You are the person with the most potential in this competition to be a worldwide superstar” but it was then overshadowed with his remaining comments such as ” It’s so frustrating to watch someone who can be a potential superstar messing up her words. You can’t do it anymore”. He later took another dig at Foster after Sam Bailey’s performance when he told Foster to watch and learn. Sharon was less harsh as she joked “Don’t get down on yourself, You tick all the right boxes, you’ve got it all going on. But just think, if you were lip syncing, there would be something else coming out”. As expected, Nicole stuck up for her act Tamera by stating “I am proud of you tonight, because you kept on going, and you fought through it, and you ploughed through it, and you know what? You’re only 16, little pumpkin pie”.

ALSO SEE: Mikel Ameen: The World Changer Is Here!

Naomi Harrison (Kaz girlfriend and stylist to Rough Copy) and Sanchez Nelson

Really Nicole? So what if she is only 16, I would argue that Tamera’s age has nothing to do with her forgetting her words for the third time in this competition. Especially when other contestants who are of similar age such as Nicholas who had only turned 17 that night, Luke Friend who is 17, and Hannah Barret who is also 17 haven’t forgotten their lyrics.

Backstage, I was rubbing shoulders with the likes of Sam Bailey, Hannah Barrett, Nicholas McDonald, Luke Friend and Rough Copy. Unfortunately, Joey (member of Rough Copy) was not there as he had been rushed off to an emergency dentist as he had chipped his tooth during his performance that night. This came as an utter shock to me as I was sitting fairly close to the stage. Yet I did not realise Joey had hit himself in the mouth with the microphone, as he took it off the stand causing it to chip his tooth, what a trooper! Tamera did not stay backstage to mingle, take photos or sign autographs which was understandable. However, I was later told that she tends not to participate in the weekly backstage after-show get-together.

ALSO SEE: Stiege’s Cards Are On The Table: Oxjam Shoreditch Takeover.

Kaz (member of Rough Copy) expressed that he feared that Rough Copy and Tamera will be in the bottom two, I tried to reassure Kaz that his group had such an amazing performance that being in the bottom two is something that they do not need to worry about. But Kaz was already convinced, and he was right.

XFactor celebrated their anniversary in style. It all kicked off with former contestants JLS singing thier ‘Everybody in Love’ song alongside the other contestants. Next was an outstanding duet performance by Mary J. Blige and Jessie J, where they sung ‘Can You Hear What I Hear‘ and last but not the least, One Direction took the stage, singing their hot new single ‘Story Of My Life’. Wooooooo! The crowd cheered, but the cheers shortly turned into boos. As it was revealed that Rough Copy and Hannah were to have a sing off against one another in order to stay in the competition.

The talented, powerful vocalist, Hannah gracefully sang ‘I’d Rather Go Blind’ by Etta James. This was followed by a mind blowing performance that was awarded with a standing ovation after singing Oasis ‘Stop Crying Your Heart Out’ by Rough Copy. How did this happen, why were these two phenomenal acts in the bottom two?

Three out of the four judges voted to send Hannah home but not before expressing how they felt about this situation. Louis took the opportunity to have another nip at Tamera by saying that ‘at least these two acts remembered their words’. Sharon declared her love for Hannah but afterwards explained that as it was her third time in the bottom two, it was her time to go. Gary kept it short and sweet “Both acts were amazing last night but the act that I am sending home is Hannah,” he said. Whilst Nicole speech was a little emotional, “I just can’t believe this. These two acts should be in the finals. I am so disappointed and furious with the British public right now that my girl is in the bottom two for the third time”.

As the ultimate decision was made for Hannah to leave the competition, she did so, but not before saying a few touching words. “I just want to say I feel so blessed, those are my boys, they are my brothers and if there was anyone I had to battle against, it’s them lot. I am rooting for them. I am so blessed to be here and I thank God for everything that I have.”

After this weeks shocking outcome, next week is so unpredictable.

Stay Tuned !

By Sanchez Nelson

British-Nigerian who posted rap video on YouTube glorifying gang culture jailed for 22 years

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November 27, 2013

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A gunman (British-Nigerian) who uploaded a rap video onto YouTube boasting about trying to murder a rival with a ‘spray and pray’ machine gun was jailed for 22 years today.

Kayode Oshin, 21, attempted to assassinate Yassin Zouaiou with a Mac 10 in a feud over drugs and money in Hounslow, west London, after being enticed into a world of gang culture and crime’, a court heard.

Mr Zouaiou survived when the gun jammed – but a single bullet was fired, hitting his brother Mohammed Ali Subhani in the neck.

But Oshin then posted a rap video bragging about the shooting on YouTube.

The shooting was carried out in an alleyway between North Drive and Kingsley Road, Hounslow, at around 1am on October 6, 2011, the court heard.

Oshin and a second man, Junior Tahir-Akinyele, 19, were arrested the next day in a white Mercedes-Benz they had hired for the attack.

Kayode Oshin has been jailed for 22 years for a bungled drugs shooting in an alleyway in Hounslow two years ago

Jailing Oshin for 22 years and Tahir-Akinyele for 14 years, Judge Timothy Pontius said the pair had been ‘enticed into a world of gang culture and crime’.

‘Oshin you are convicted of attempted murder, your clear intention was that Yassin Zouaiou should die,’ he added.

‘That intention would undoubtedly have been realised were it not for the fact that the mechanism on the gun jammed, releasing only one round.

‘It’s a matter of good fortune that he was not killed in what would have been a spray of bullets had the weapon been in good working order.

‘The Mac 10 was obtained by you with a specific murder in mind.

‘Tahir-Akinyele you are convicted of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

‘It was your intention to hurt Mohammed Ali Subhani very badly, an intention that was fulfilled to the extent that really serious injury was caused.

‘You readily and willingly played your part in obtaining the Mac 10.’

The pair, both from Hounslow, are currently serving sentences for a stabbing in Isleworth in November 2011 – Oshin for ten years and Tahir-Akinyele for eight.

‘Both of you have a record for serious violence,’ Judge Pontius said.

‘I have no doubt that the public must be protected from serious harm at your hands.

‘You are both currently serving substantial sentences for the offence in November 2011.’

Junior Tahir-Akinyele was convicted of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm and jailed for 14 years.

Oshin was jailed for 22 years for attempted murder; 16 years imprisonment for possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and 14 years for wounding with intent, all to run concurrent.

Tahir-Akinyele was sentenced to 14 years in a Young Offenders’ Institution for possession of firearms with intent to endanger life with 12 years concurrent for wounding with intent.

Detective Constable Iain Bailey, of the Trident Gang Crime Command, said: ‘These violent offenders, who were involved in a gang and drug dispute, resorted to firearms to settle their arguments.

‘They were then brazen enough to brag about their offending on the internet.

‘Thanks to the work of the Trident Gang Crime Command, with the assistance of Hounslow officers, we were able to gather the necessary evidence to bring about this conviction and prevent further offences.’

Source: Daily Mail UK

Documentary Trailer: 7 up South Africa

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November 27, 2013

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Check out the trailer of a new South African’s documentary titled “7 up South Africa”. The series is set a around 1992 apartheid South Africa. In the documentary, we meet 20 lively, candid 7 year olds of all races who we’ll follow every 7 years as they grow up in times of great change.

Click here to read on about 7 up South Africa.

Al Jazeera To Screen Landmark UP Series, Set In South Africa

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November 27, 2013

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Al Jazeera To Screen Landmark UP Series, Set In South Africa

Twenty-one years ago, for ITV’s award-winning TV series 7UP South Africa, acclaimed director Angus Gibson filmed a cross-section of the country’s seven-year-old children and asked them about their lives, hopes and dreams. He’s filmed the children every seven years since: first for 14UP, then 21UP, and now, as adults, for 28UP, premiering on Al Jazeera English this Friday, 29 November 2013.

The South African show is a spinoff from British director Michael Apted’s multi-award-winning UPseries, which is on The British Film Institute’s list of The Greatest British TV Shows.

“The premise of the series is taken from the Jesuit motto, ‘Give me a child until he is seven and I will give you the man,’ says Paul Eedle, director of programming at Al Jazeera English. “The South African version is fascinating, because it shows the country’s transformation as well as the children’s.”

ALSO SEE: Steal These 21 Asoebi Styles From This Mercy Aigbe Fashion Book.

The series follows the twists and turns of the children’s lives from 1992, two years after Nelson Mandela was released from prison and two years before he became South Africa’s first democractically-elected president.

“In the first film, 7UP, apartheid still defined the country’s social divisions,” says Angus, who directed the Oscar-nominated Mandela documentary and the breakthrough South African TV series Yizo Yizo. “The children only understood life from the perspective of their own segregated part of society, So Patrick in an affluent suburb of Cape Town could know nothing of Thembisile’s life in Soweto. Seven years later, when the film crew returned, they were teenagers in a new South Africa. At 21, the political struggle had given them chances their parents were denied but the biggest battle was the war against AIDS – and not all of them have survived.Now at 28 they have entered the adult world and one of them has even become a Springbok rugby player.”

ALSO SEE: 42 Stylish And Comfortable Maternity Outfits Pregnant Women Can Rock.

Al Jazeera has acquired all previous South Africa: UP programmes and has created an eight-episode series following the group from their seventh year through to the present, three-episode 28UP production. This retrospective will include never-seen-before footage from the earlier shoots.

Executive produced by ITV’s Jonathan Levi and Al Jazeera English’s Ingrid Falck, with Jemma Jupp as the series producer and co-director, 28UP South Africa is a co-production between The Shiver, ITV Studios, and Al Jazeera English. It screens on Fridays at 20h00 GMT; Saturdays at 12h00; Sundays at 01h00; and Mondays at 06h00.

See the trailer here.

Nigeria: “How I Quit, Returned to Robbery in 2011” Godogodo

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November 27, 2013

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Nigeria: “How I Quit, Returned to Robbery in 2011” Godogodo

Abiodun Ogunjobi, otherwise known as Godogodo, the dreaded one-eyed robbery czar who terrorised Lagos and other South-West states, killing no less than 50 policemen while raiding several banks, businesses and homes, for over 14 years has revealed that he almost quit robbery in 2011.

Godogodo made this disclosure during an interview with Vanguard

He told Vanguard that he had planned to quit robbery after building two houses and setting up 50 fishponds, valued at about N16 million, in Ikorodu area of Lagos.
Godogodo added that he also travelled to Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, to buy clothes whose sales would keep him busy when he is not on his fish farm.

But his dreams got dashed when an operative of SARS, who had been on his trail for long, got an intelligence report on his location and traced him to his mansion.

Relocation to Ibadan

Vanguard gathered that the operative met a member of one land-owning family, locally known as omo-onile in the area and made him take an oath not to reveal his mission to anyone.

But the omo-onile informed Godogodo of the presence of a SARS operative in search of him and he quickly fled Ikorodu and relocated to Ibadan where he built two more mansions.

According to a source, “one of our operatives tracking Godogodo received an intelligence report on his location in Ikorodu and stormed the area as an undercover operative.

“He met a young man, an omo-onile, in Ikorodu who showed him Godogodo’s house but he was not in. Only his wife was around.

“The operative paid the omo-onile to keep watch on Godogodo’s house and report to him whenever he sets his eye on him, but news got to him (Godogodo) that a police undercover operative was in town looking for him. He fled without packing his property.”

I built 52 fish ponds

But Godogodo, speaking to Vanguard said: “In 2008 after I finished building my house in Ikorodu and I setting up a good business for my wife, I went into fish farming. I built about 52 fish ponds and I was making good money from them.

“I usually sell each pond between N600,000 and N800,000 and it took me four months to grow fingerlings into a maturity for sale. The business was moving smoothly and I had over 15 people working for me at the pond.

I was still going for robberies

“While the business was on, I was still going for robberies with members of my gang, but in 2011, I decided to quit. I gave all my rifles, they were nine in number, to my boy, Tosin, who resides at Ajah and I stopped going for robberies.

“I only asked them to bring my share of any loot they made from robberies carried out with my rifles. But in June of that year, I travelled to Dubai, where I bought some clothes I intended to sell in Nigeria.

ALSO SEE: Nigerian Couple Jailed For Money Laundering And Human Trafficking.

When I returned, one omo-onile whom I had assisted in the past (in fact, I gave the guy N200,000 when his wife put to bed through a caesarian section) came to see me. I also gave him some of the clothes I brought from Dubai. He came to me and said a SARS operative had been in town, looking for me.

“The omo-onile explained that the operative dropped a live bullet into a cup of gin and made him swear an oath that he would not reveal his mission to anyone and he should also inform him upon my return.

“The moment I heard this, I knew there was trouble and my cover had been compromised, because nobody knew where I lived, including my gang members. I quickly moved out of the house and I went to Ajah to relax before I contacted my wife and asked her to leave the house without picking anything.

How I went back to my gang

“We stayed in that hotel for quite some time and I was running out of cash because the guys running my fish ponds were no longer remitting money because they heard that the police were after me.

“At that point, I was left with no option than to go back to my gang. After some few bank robberies in Osun and OndoStates, I made huge money which I used to buy the land at Ibadan before I started building on it. But after that, I became more vicious and I made sure that I took part in all major operations within the South-West.”

28 rifles so far recovered

Meantime, Vanguard also gathered that the five AK-47 rifles and 40 fully-loaded magazines recovered from Godogodo, after his return from OgunState, were found in Ayobo area by the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Adeniji Adele, LagosIsland.

The recovery has brought the total number of rifles recovered from the notorious bandit to 28. According to the source, three of the rifles were found in a Nissan Primera car parked in the premises of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Adeniji Adele.

Sources disclosed to Vanguard that the vehicle was parked at the Federal Special Anti-Robber Squad, Adeniji Adele for over three years and was not properly searched after it was transferred from Ifo Police Station in Ogun State when they ransacked one of Godogodo’s mansions in OgunState.

The two other AK-47 rifles and 15 loaded magazines were recovered from Ayobo area of Lagos where they were buried. However, the discovery of three AK-47 rifles which belonged to three police officers attached to Mopol 16 in Abeokuta, Ogun State, who were killed by Godogodo and his gang members when they were ambushed, at the Federal Special Anti-Robber Squad, Adeniji Adele sent the unit into disarray.

Source: written by Ifeanyi Okolie and culled from Vanguard Nigeria

15yr Old Nigerian Boy Shot And Stabbed In His Home After Being Mistaken For Gang Member

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November 27, 2013

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A 15-year-old boy was shot and stabbed in his home by a gang of masked attackers in what police believe may have been a case of mistaken identity.

The teenager is in a serious but stable condition in hospital after he was shot and repeatedly stabbed at his east London home.

Five men wearing balaclavas and armed with knives and a gun forced their way into the home in Plaistow just before 3am on Friday.

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Life Apps: Kenya’s Silicon Savannah Helps Subsistence Farmers

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November 26, 2013

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Life Apps is a groundbreaking new Al Jazeera English series that challenges young app developers from around the world to visit remote communities to experience their everyday hardships and create app solutions to improve their lives.

The first episode of Life Apps premieres on Al Jazeera English on Tuesday, 26 November 2013. In Silicon Savannah, Africa’s technology capital Nairobi is a hive of entrepreneurial Kenyans in a thriving technology industry. However, while some in Kenya are moving forward, four out of every ten Kenyans still live on less than two dollars a day.

Muniu Kariuku is co-founder and chief technology officer at Bityarn Consult, a Nairobi-based app developer. Muniu is challenged to create a life app that can help hard-pressed subsistence farmers like William Ojuang, who farms indigenous vegetables like Osuga in Ugenya.

Later episodes follow app developers from Rio’s favelas to Indian farms to the nomadic Himba people in Namibia, as they try to use technology to deliver social change.

Silicon Savannah premieres 26 November 2013 at 22:30 Accra-time. See the promo below

Goodbye Weaves: Natural Hair Is The New Classy And Stylish

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November 25, 2013

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Goodbye Weaves: Natural Hair Is The New Classy And Stylish

Five years ago, wearing out natural hair was for the majority of black women an aesthetic taboo. Natural hair was seen as unmanageable and unstylish. “Good hair” was wavy, bad hair was kinky. Braids, relaxers and weaves were the only way to have a nice and smooth hairstyle.

Today, things have changed considerably. Natural hair is slowly becoming the new classy and stylish hairstyle for Afro women. Magazines, websites, blogs, video tutorials on youtube, have been focusing on natural hair and the different styles that can be obtained with them. Natural hair products lines have increased in the last 2-3 years and consequently also, the salons devoted to natural hair care.

ALSO SEE: NATURAL HAIR ICON: LUPITA NYONG’O THE QUEEN OF TRESS.

A model rocking natural hair at an evening with Joy and Dionne event, London

This trend is embraced by celebrities as well. Notorious examples are Shingai Shoniwa, Solange, Janelle Monae, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, who contributed to making natural hair a real fashion.

The traditional ‘Afro’ continues to be an unmissable hairstyle. However as the natural movement developed, new styles were created and other rediscovered. Twists and twist outs, updos, Bantu knots (just to list few of them), are all incredible ways to style afro hair.

Dionne Smith showing how to use curlformers at the an evening with Joy and Dionne event

Weaves have been for long considered a must for formal and classy events such as balls and galas, but there are many ways to style natural hair for this occasions. Bantu knots out with the back pinned up are an easy and versatile option. A classic updo can make anyone look chic and elegant. Also using curlformers and rod sets can be useful to add definition to the hairstyle.

ALSO SEE: Going Natural – Black Women Embracing Their Kinky African Hair.

Natural afro hair is now worn with confidence and pride, and black women are increasingly accepting and treasuring their textures. With all the different styles and options available, natural hair is destined to become the new ‘good hair’!

As a result, earlier this month, at the, an Evening with Dionne and Joy makeup and hair event that took place in Black Velvet London, professional hair stylist, Dionne Smith concentrated on showing the different ways you can style afro hair as well as how to use curlformers (photo above).

By Susanna Ajayi

Eva Longoria Wears Nothing But Crystals On The Cover Of ELLE Magazine

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November 22, 2013

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Eva Longoria covers the December 2013 issue of ELLE Magazine wearing nothing but crystals. What do you think about her fashion and look of this Desperate House Wives star on this cover? Share your views

South Africa’s SKA Radio Telescope Will Be World’s Largest

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November 22, 2013

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This Friday on Al Jazeera’s talk show South2North, Redi Tlhabi discusses the Square Kilometre Array, SKA radio telescope and Africa’s new positioning as a space hub.

“Do you ever gaze at the stars and wonder how it all began and whether there is life out there? If so, the answers may come from unexpected quarters,” says Redi at the start of the show, which is broadcast from Johannesburg, South Africa. “Money is being pumped into space exploration in countries like China and India. And here in Africa, South Africa recently won a bid to co-host the world’s largest radio telescope, a project that could see Africa emerge as a leading global science frontier. Eager to find answers to some of astronomy’s long-standing mysteries, top scientists and engineers from all over the world are flocking to the continent. So what discoveries do they have in store for us? And how will the region benefit as a whole?”

Redi is joined in studio by Square Kilometre Array research chair professor Oleg Smirnov from Russia; Chinese American astrophysicist Dr Hsin Cynthia Chiang; and development expert Fumani Mthembi.

Oleg explains that SKA is going to be “more sensitive by a huge margin over anything we have right now.”

In terms of South Africa’s “new positioning” as a space hub, he says the country “already has emerged and people just want to come here and join the excitement.”

Cynthia’s previous post was in the South Pole. “A lot of the telescopes are located in very remote locations, because that’s where we have access to the cleanest skies. The Karoo is another excellent example and that’s where the SKA will be located.”

She and Oleg say the SKA team is diverse, but includes many South Africans. “We do have a very vibrant community of South Africans working on the project so it’s not just a plot of land by any means,” says Cynthia. “The SKA offices in Cape Town are brimming with people and young scientists who will eventually transform the country.”

Oleg says SKA’s phase one budget is 600m Euros, which comes from international contributors in addition to South Africa.

Fumani says “the development question we should be asking is what does it mean for us, the people to whom the land belongs?”

She challenges the idea that, “To the extent that there’s money flowing into the country, that means there’s development. Development is about justice, about equality, about spreading benefits, and those are the things our state is failing at.”

The group discusses the benefits of astronomy.

“Pure science is really blue skies research and hard to advertise as having a specific application but pure science also has the benefit of having wonderful technological spin-offs,” says Cynthia.

She points to both the internet and GPS as being spin-offs from pure science, while Oleg says it’s already clear that SKA will lead to lower-power computing as a direct spin-off.

“Astronomy first of all teaches us to be humble,” says Oleg. “We really are just a tiny dot on a small rock orbiting a ball of gas, so it teaches us that our role in the universe is not special at all. But at the same time, it teaches how precious we are, that we are actually capable of sitting on this tiny rock and discussing these kinds of questions.”

Oleg also believes astronomy is important because if you “take the long view: humanity has to go into space. We only have this one precious planet and if we don’t someday expand, we’ll be stuck.”

The group also discusses SKA’s public outreach programme, the role of universities in SKA, India sending rockets to Mars, and whether or not aliens exist.

This week’s episode of South2North premieres at 19:30 GMT on Friday, 22 November 2013 and also screens on Saturday at 14h30, Sunday 04h30 and Monday 08h30.

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