Wednesday 2 October 2013

Leaders Optimistic As Nigeria Celebrates 53rd Independence Anniversary

The celebration of Nigeria’s 53rd Independence anniversary was celebrated across the Federal Capital Territory and the 36 states of the country, as governors clamour for peace,unity and oneness of Nigeria so the challenges facing the nation can be surmounted.

Starting with the celebrations at the Presidential Villa, where President Goodluck Jonathan hosted past leaders of the nation to a low key celebration, we look at some other states and their goodwill messages.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) may have taken a definite stance to shore up the value of the naira against the persistent free fall of the currency in recent times, as it banned the importation of all foreign currencies unless by regulatory approval. The move, which is part of its determination to save the economy from external threats and dominance, may also be a strategy to stem the rising tide of Naira-Dollar speculations and unpredictable quantity of dollars in circulation.

President Goodluck Jonathan has announced the setting up of an Advisory Committee to establish modalities for a national conference aimed at resolving issues that currently cause friction in the polity. In an Independence Day broadcast today, President Goodluck Jonathan said that the committee which will have Dr. Femi Okurounmu as its Chairperson and Dr. Akilu Indabawa as its Secretary, is expected to complete its assignment within one month.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

-"I don't care who wins the battle. I want the government to reopen," GOP Rep. King says
-Lawmakers continue to talk over each other; Obama weighs in on Day One of shutdown
-Agencies begin furloughs that could eventually impact up to 800,000 workers
-Aides: GOP plans again to bring up bills in House to fund programs piecemeal

Kelly Keiderling, the U.S. charge d'affaires in Venezuela, has been ousted by the Venezuelan government.

The United States is expelling three Venezuelan diplomats, including the South American country's top envoy in Washington, the State Department said Tuesday night. Calixto Ortega, Venezuela's charge d'affaires in Washington, and two other diplomats have been declared personae non gratae in response to Venezuela's decision Monday to expel three U.S. diplomats, a State Department spokesperson said in a written statement provided to CNN. They have 48 hours to leave the United States.

Mesut Ozil scored his first goal for Arsenal since his move from Real Madrid

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

-Arsenal cruises to a 2-0 home win over Napoli in Champions League
-Mesut Ozil scores first goal for club since move from Real Madrid
-Barcelona edges to victory over 10-man Celtic
-Ajax held by Milan, wins for Atletico, Dortmund and Chelsea

David Nalbandian has announced his retirement from tennis after failing to overcome a troublesome shoulder injury. The 31-year-old, who reached the semifinal of every grand slam and finished as runner up to Lleyton Hewitt at Wimbledon in 2002, reached a career high of No.3 in the world back in March 2006. "It's a sad day but the shoulder is not responding well," he told a press conference in Buenos Aires Tuesday.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

-To become a saint, a person needs to lead a holy life and perform two miracles
-John Paul II is said to have cured a French nun and a Costa Rican woman
-Pope John XXIII is only recorded as having performed one miracle after his death
-But Pope Francis has decided that there are sufficient grounds to canonize him

Here are the details via CNN

This Day In History

October 2

1919

President Woodrow Wilson suffered a stroke, which left him partially paralyzed.

T.G.I.F !!!

Had a stressful week? Then smile because it's friday!!

"Research has shown that the simple act of smiling causes your brain to release a stream of chemicals that makes you feel good." ;-)

Enjoy your weekend guys!

Fifty Shades of Grey' author releases wine!

The Fifty Shades of Grey Wine comes in Red Satin and White Silk.

If her erotic scenes of bondage and sadomasochism weren’t enough to get you in the mood, the author of "Fifty Shades of Grey" has launched a new collection of wines named after her runaway best-sellers to set the tone.

The British visa bond policy may be reviewed after all, going by hints from top diplomatic sources. Indeed, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Andrew Pocock, disclosed that his home country’s government is currently working on the review process. Pocock stated this on Wednesday during a courtesy visit to the Nigerian Stock Exchange to discuss ways to encourage British companies invest in the capital market.

World powers have reached a deal to compel Syria to hand over its chemical weapons — a resolution that includes enforcement language but is not explicit on military action, diplomatic sources told NBC News on Thursday.

The United States and Russia have been at odds on how to force the handover. Those two countries negotiated the deal, and France played a large role in helping come up with compromise language, the sources said.

Bolivian President Evo Morales speaks at the 68th United Nations General Assembly on September 25, 2013 in New York City

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

-Bolivia's Evo Morales wants to create a new court to sue the U.S.
-He has said he wants to sue the Obama administration for crimes against humanity
-The blustery talk has become a tradition among some Latin American countries

The top 10 contestants at a modelling event in Indonesia

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

-Radical Islamic groups protest Miss World 2013 Contest
-They decry it as pornography and degrading to women
-Contest scraps swimsuit contest and moves final round to Bali
-However, The miss world finals would take place tomorrow, September 28.

Bill Gates

If you pressed Control-Alt-Delete to log on before reading this, Bill Gates says he's sorry.

The Microsoft founder says the triple-key login should have been made easier, à la Apple's Macs, but that a designer insisted on the more complicated step.

"We could have had a single button. But the guy who did the IBM keyboard design didn't want to give us our single button," Gates said Saturday during a question-and-answer session to launch a Harvard University fund-raising campaign.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

-At least 19 people have been stung to death by hornets in southern China
-More than 580 people have been stung in China's southern Shaanxi province
-The Asian killer hornet, Vespa mandarinia, is world's largest hornet and may be involved
-Regional hot, dry weather and smell of people may be factors in increased hornet activity

Novak Djokovic engaged to longtime girlfriend!

Novak Djokovic's new fiancee, Jelena Ristic, often cheers on the world No. 1 at his tennis matches

Tennis' world No. 1 announced his engagement to longtime girlfriend of 8 years and fellow Serb Jelena Ristic, telling the world via his Facebook page and Twitter. "Meet my fiancée and future wife :) So happy! Thank you for wonderful wishes #NoleFam and friends!"

Accompanying that tweet was a picture of Ristic kissing Djokovic on the cheek.

No wedding date was given.

China to launch mysterious free trade zone in Shanghai

China is scheduled to launch a new free trade zone in Shanghai over the weekend, a move that some analysts think could be a game changer for the world's second-biggest economy.Investors have reacted with great enthusiasm, snapping up huge amounts of real estate in the area and driving up the share price of any company with "Shanghai" in its name.But there's just one problem -- the government hasn't said much about how it plans to run the program.

Ahmed Ben Ahmed a.k.a Klay BBJ sorrounded by his supporters

A Tunisian court sentenced a local rap singer on Thursday to six months in jail for a song insulting the police and government in a case likely to fuel debate over free speech under the Islamist-led government, his lawyer said.

Critics say free expression has been threatened under the governing coalition led by the moderate Islamist Ennahda party, which won an election after a 2011 uprising ousted a secular dictatorship. The government rejects those accusations.

September 27

1540

Pope Paul III approved the charter for the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), founded by St. Ignatius Loyola.

How true is this?: ‘I am alive, hale and hearty’, says ‘Shekau’

Boko Haram sect leader, Abubakar Shekau

Who is telling the truth: Soldiers or terrorists? More than one month after the Nigerian Army claimed to have killed the Boko Haram sect leader, Abubakar Shekau, a man Wednesday claimed to be Shekau and said he was never killed by men of the Special Military Operational Forces on June 30, 2013 in the Sambisa Forests of Borno State. It was a surprise in the military and political circles in Abuja when news filtered in that the reported death of Shekau may have been a ruse after all.

The Nigerian Stock Exchange has said it is set to commence trading activities on its new trading platform called X-GEN from next week. A statement made available to our correspondent on Tuesday quoted the Chief Executive Officer, NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema, as saying, “We have had a series of market readiness tests, created a new market structure that is world class and are now making final preparations to cutover to our next Generation platform this weekend.”

Sean “Diddy” Combs who is no. 1 on list of the World's 20 Highest-Paid Hip-Hop Artists hasn’t always agreed with Forbe's calculations. “[Screw] the Forbes list,” he rapped on a Rick Ross song three years ago. “Let’s tell the truth: I ate more.” This year Diddy is satisfied. "You started learning how to count right, I see." he says.

Also big ups to Nicki Minaj for being the only lady on the list! See the list below;

1. Diddy ($50 million)
2. Jay Z ($43 million)
3. Dr. Dre ($40 million)
4. Nicki Manaj ($29 million)

A Somali soldier stands against a crumbling wall at the army's headquarters in Kismayo on Saturday.

Somalia's defense minister made an international plea to aid its struggling government, saying it cannot fight the terrorist group behind Kenya's mall massacre without more funding and weapons from the global community.

"We are not looking at jet fighters. It’s small arms," Abdulhakim Haji Faqi told NBC News. "We need the funding and resources." He warned that the attack on the Westgate mall should be a wake-up call illustrating that Somalia-based terror organization al Shabaab was now a “global problem.”

The 33-year-old Devious Maids star, Diana Ramirez was simply sizzling in a plunging bright blue velvet gown which hugged her pregnancy curves as she attended a Gala at Club Nokia, LA Live in Los Angeles on Tuesday night. Dania revealed that she was expecting twins back in July this year by sharing a sonogram on her Instagram account.

Hero of the hour: Javier Hernández scored the only goal of the game at Old Trafford

Rarely can Manchester United fans have greeted so loudly a narrow third-round win in a competition that ranks fourth on their list of trophy priorities. But after humiliation at the hands of their noisy neighbours on Sunday, this Capital One Cup victory over ancient rivals brought joy and relief in equal measure.

Read more of this update by Henry Winter, Football Correspondent, at Old Trafford via The Telegraph

Animal Cruelty: "Poachers poison 90 elephants with cyanide in Zimbabwe wildlife park"

Almost 90 elephants have been slaughtered by poachers who poisoned them with industrial cyanide, authorities in Zimbabwe said Wednesday.

Rangers in the Hwange National Park discovered the carcasses of more than 40 of the gentle giants earlier this month and they continue to find bodies in recent weeks.

Park spokesperson Caroline Washaya-Moyo told NBC News that 87 corpses had been found so far, all with their tusks removed.

Soldiers carry the flag-draped coffin of policemen who died at the Zamboanga rebel attack in Mindanao.

At least 158 people have been killed since fighting broke out earlier this month between separatist rebels and soldiers in the Philippines, state news reported Wednesday.

The majority of those killed, 125, were militants from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), the government-run Philippines News Agency (PNA) said. Also among the reported dead were 15 members of the military, five from police, and 13 civilians.

QUETTA, Pakistan -- The death toll from a powerful earthquake that struck northwest Pakistan rose to at least 349 early Thursday, authorities said.

The Pakistani military said it had rushed almost 1,000 troops to the area and was sending helicopters in the wake of Tuesday's temblor.

Most of the victims were killed when their houses collapsed. At least 550 people were injured.

Xiaolian, 22, had a new nose grown on his forehead after his original one was irreparably damaged in a traffic accident. The new nose was sculpted from cartilage taken from his rib. his nose was damaged in a traffic accident in August 2012 but failed to seek treatment.

As a result, an infection corroded the cartilage leaving the surgeons unable to repair it.

Iran's new president has acknowledged the Holocaust, furthering the stark contrast between himself and his predecessor.

"Any crime that happens in history against humanity, including the crime the Nazis committed towards the Jews as well as non-Jews, was reprehensible and condemnable," President Hassan Rouhani said in an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour.

Watch a part of the interview HERE

Crisis: Syrian rebels reject interim government, embrace Sharia

Some Opposition fighters

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

-Syrian rebel brigades oppose Western-backed group that announced government in exile
-Thirteen rebel groups call on supporters of the Syrian opposition to embrace Sharia
-Moderate opposition groups appear to have suffered a series of setbacks this month
-Secular Syrian activists have been warning of the rise of Islamist groups

Read full story here

Victory: Oracle Team USA wins America's Cup

Oracle Team USA skippered by James Spithill celebrates onstage after defending the Cup as they beat Emirates Team New Zealand to defend the America's Cup during the final race on September 25 in San Francisco, California.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

-Oracle Team USA wins America Cup
-Only second time in 162-year history that competition has gone down to the final race
-Emirates New Zealand had led 8-1 before losing 9-8

Here are the details via CNN

Update: Arrests made in Air France flight cocaine case

$270 million in cocaine found on flight

Venezuelan authorities on Wednesday announced additional arrests in connection with a massive shipment of cocaine in an Air France flight from Caracas that landed in Paris.

In a prepared statement, the Venezuelan Attorney General's Office said 17 people have been arrested in the drug trafficking case. The flight originated at Simon Bolivar International Airport in Caracas, the Venezuelan capital.

Former President and CEO of Nokia Stephen Elop says he will not give back €18.8 million to his prior company despite mounting political pressure.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

-Nokia's chairman asked Stephen Elop, former group CEO, to return pay-off
-Elop said no, citing divorce proceedings with his wife
-Nokia gave Elop €18.8 million who returns to former company Microsoft
-Political pressure rising for Elop to return funds

Amazon on Wednesday announced three new Kindle Fire tablets: a 8.9- and 7-inch Kindle Fire HDX and a lower-end Kindle Fire HD. The tablets feature faster hardware, better screens, improved software and a subtle new look.

This Day In History

September 26

1789

Thomas Jefferson was appointed America's first Secretary of State.

Here is an excerpt from the book "Attitude Is Everything" by Keith Harrell.

"Do you ever watch the soaps? You can admit it, no one will jump out from behind the page and arrest you. For many people, soap operas are a guilty pleasure. They're certainly not boring. There are people, though, who think life is one big soap opera, minus the commercials. Like characters in a soap opera, these people often have over-the-top attitudes. They can be charming, charismatic, narcissistic, flamboyant, imaginative, compelling, and persuasive.

For the fans --- Drake’s new album, Nothing Was the Same, was officially released yesterday, Tuesday, September 24th. Unfortunately for Drake, it hit the interent and leaked over a week ahead of the release date but that hasn’t slowed the hype for his new album.

It is now available on iTunes and in stores everywhere. There are two copies of the CD, Standard Version and a Deluxe Version with extra tracks.

Enjoy!! :-)

Bids for Chevron's Oil Blocks to be Submitted Next Week.

United States oil major, Chevron Corporation, will next week receive bids from about 30 companies jostling to acquire its interest in three Nigerian oil blocks, while prospective buyers will pay 15 per cent of the transaction value of the assets on September 30. Chevron had in June unveiled plans to sell its 40 per cent interest in five onshore blocks, beginning with Oil Mining Leases (OMLs 52, 53 and 55, which will be collectively sold to one firm.

Curtis Elton has become the youngest person in the world to receive an ATCL diploma, the equivalent of a first-year degree, for his piano skills.

Recording-breaking achievements seem to run in the family. Hayley Elton became the youngest person to be admitted to London's Guildhall School of Music when she was 8 years old. She began teaching Curtis how to play the piano when he was 3 1/2.

You can follow this sweet boy on twitter @curtispiano :-)

China lifts Facebook ban ... a bit?

According to the South China Morning Post, the Chinese government has decided to lift a ban on foreign websites deemed politically sensitive, albeit only within the newly developed Shanghai Free Trade Zone.

The Free Trade Zone launches on Sunday and is intended to serve as a testing ground for financial and service sector reforms, including increased access to the tightly-controlled yuan.

Angela Merkel recently celebrated a stunning election victory on Sunday. With 41.5 percent of the votes, Merkel's center-right Christian Democrats boasted its best result since German reunification in 1990. However, her party fell five seats short of an absolute majority. "This is a super result," Merkel told cheering supporters. "Together, we will do all we can to make the next four years successful ones for Germany."

Wondering who she is? The German Chancellor Angela Merkel is the conservative leader of Europe's largest economy is one of the most influential people in the world.

Lionel Messi scored against Sociedad but he also missed a good opportunity in the second half, leading him to hide his face

Match Updates
-Barcelona maintains its perfect record in Spain's La Liga by beating Real Sociedad 4-1
-Neymar scored one and set up Lionel Messi as the dream pairing clicked at the Camp Nou
-Sergio Busquets and substitute Marc Bartra scored the other goals for Barcelona

-Borussia Dortmund needs extra time to see off second-tier 1860 Munich in the German Cup

Finally, the horrific Kenyan mall seige is over!

After four days of bloody mayhem, Kenyan security forces have "ashamed and defeated" the terrorist gunmen who had besieged Nairobi's Westgate Mall, President Uhuru Kenyatta said Tuesday.

In a nationally televised address, Kenyatta declared his country "bloodied but unbowed" after the attack.

"We confronted this evil without flinching, confronted our deep grief and pain, and conquered it," he said.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

-Official: Woman among the attackers, but not known if she's Lewthwaite

-Samantha Lewthwaite was married to one of the bombers who attacked London in 2005
-She is wanted by the Kenyan authorities, who say she is the "White Widow"

-The death toll rises to 238; about 400 are injured

-Thousands of survivors are facing difficulties, an official says

September 25

1775

Ethan Allen was captured by the British.

Wednesday 2 October 2013

October 2

1919

Friday 27 September 2013

The Fifty Shades of Grey Wine comes in Red Satin and White Silk.

September 27

1540

Thursday 26 September 2013

$270 million in cocaine found on flight

Wednesday 25 September 2013

September 26

1789

September 25

1775