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28/06/2013

Looted statues returned to China in Pinault donation

Two bronze animal heads, returned to China after more than 150 years, will soon be on display in their new home in Beijing's National Museum of China.

 

The sculptures were bought by the Pinault family, who own French luxury group Kering, and donated to the Chinese government.

 

The rabbit and rat heads were looted from Beijing's Old Summer Palace at the end of the Second Opium War in 1860.

 

China had tried to stop their sale when they came up for auction in 2009.

That auction ended in controversy when a Chinese man bid successfully for them, but did not pay, as a "patriotic act".

 

The statues had come up for sale following the death of fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent.

Kering's brands, which include Saint Laurent as well as Gucci and Alexander McQueen, are popular in China's booming luxury market.

 

In a statement in April announcing their donation of the statues, the Pinault family said they had gone to "great efforts to retrieve these two significant treasures of China and strongly believe they belong in their rightful home".

 

At a ceremony at the National Museum on Friday attended by Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong, Francois Pinault was awarded a certificate of donation, according to the State Administration of Cultural Heritage.

 

The bronze animal heads were among 12 which previously adorned a zodiac fountain in the destroyed Old Summer Palace.

The palace, known as Yuanming Yuan, was sacked by British and French forces.

The heads disappeared, but it remains unclear when, how and by whom they were taken out of China.

 

Of the 12, the ox, monkey, tiger, pig and horse heads have already been returned, the state-run China News Service reports. 

 

The whereabouts of the other five animal heads, the dragon, dog, snake, sheep and chicken, are currently unknown, it adds.


27/06/2013

Brazil 2-1 Uruguay: Late Paulinho header books Confeds Cup final berth

Paulinho popped up with a late winner as Brazil progressed to the Confederations Cup final with a hard-earned 2-1 victory over a gritty Uruguay side on Wednesday night.

An underwhelming game, which had featured a first-half penalty miss from Diego Forlan, appeared to be heading for extra time, with Edinson Cavani cancelling out Fred's opener for the hosts.

However, Paulinho nodded home a Neymar corner with just four minutes of normal time remaining to send the Belo Horizonte crowd into ecstasy, and leave Uruguay heartbroken.

Brazil looked weighed down by the almost tangible sense of expectancy among a partisan crowd packed into the Estadio Mineirao.

However, even the significant pressure the hosts were under could not explain precisely why Selecao centre-half David Luiz took leave of his senses and elected to haul Diego Lugano to the floor as the pair jostled for position at a corner 14 minutes in.

Luiz's stupidity really should have resulted in Uruguay taking the lead, but Forlan squandered the opportunity to score against the country in which he plies his trade, the Internacional attacker seeing his low spot kick turned around the post by Julio Cesar.

That fine stop drew a thunderous roar from the crowd but, in truth, they were given little else to cheer about during a desperately fractious opening quarter in Belo Horizonte.

Hulk worked himself into a fantastic position just before the half-hour mark, after a neat one-two with Neymar, but the Zenit forward ballooned his effort over the bar.

Brazil's mounting frustration then threatened to get the better of them, with Luiz Gustavo picking up a deserved booking for following through on Cristian Rodriguez, but they made a crucial breakthrough just before the interval.

Paulinho picked out Neymar's clever run in behind the Uruguay defence with a measured chip into the area and the Brazil No.10 controlled the ball on his chest before flicking it goalwards. Fernando Muslera saved well with his outstretched left arm but Fred was on hand to slice home the rebound with the aid of his shin. It was a fittingly scrappy opener, given what had gone before.

 

Uruguay replied in somewhat similar circumstances just three minutes into the second half, with Thiago Silva - of all players - inexplicably passing the ball straight to Cavani, after a game of pinball in the Brazilian box. The in-demand Napoli striker took a quick touch before beating Julio Cesar with a low strike into the far left corner.

Uruguay very nearly went ahead midway through the second period through a Luis Suarez header that was deflected just over, before Fred flashed a spectacular - but wayward - volley that never looked likely to trouble Muslera.

With both sides horribly devoid of ideas, extra time appeared inevitable, but man of the match Paulinho rose at the back post to meet Neymar's deep corner and beat Muslera with a fine downward header to put the hosts into Sunday's tournament decider.

26/06/2013

Supreme Court strikes down DOMA; rules it interferes with states, ‘dignity’ of same-sex marriages


The Supreme Court released two major decisions expanding gay rights across the country on Wednesday as hordes of cheering demonstrators greeted the news outside. The justices struck down a federal law barring the recognition of same-sex marriage in a split decision, ruling that the law violates the rights of gays and lesbians and intrudes into states' rights to define and regulate marriage. The court also dismissed a case involving California's gay marriage ban, ruling that supporters of the ban did not have the legal standing, or right, to appeal a lower court's decision striking down Proposition 8 as discriminatory.

 

The decision clears the way for gay marriage to again be legal in the nation's most populous state, even though the justices did not address the broader legal argument that gay people have a fundamental right to marriage.

 

The twin decisions throw the fight over gay marriage back to the states, because the court ruled the federal government must recognize the unions if states sanction them, but did not curtail states' rights to ban gay marriage if they choose.

Justice Anthony Kennedy, the court's conservative-leaning swing vote with a legal history of supporting gay rights, joined his liberal colleagues in the DOMA decision, which will dramatically expand the rights of married gay couples in the country to access more than 1,000 federal benefits and responsibilities of marriage previously denied them.

 

"The avowed purpose and practical effect of the law here in question are to impose a disadvantage, a separate status, and so a stigma upon all who enter into same-sex marriages made lawful by the unquestioned authority of the States," Kennedy wrote of DOMA. He concluded that states must be allowed by the federal government to confer "dignity" on same-sex couples if they choose to legalize gay marriage. DOMA "undermines" same-sex marriages in visible ways and "tells those couples, and all the world, that their otherwise valid marriages are unworthy of federal recognition."

Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain close to Arsenal switch, says agent

Gonzalo Higuain's agent and brother, Nicolas Higuain, says that the Real Madrid striker is closing in on a move to Arsenal.

 

The 25-year old had previously announced his desire to leave the Bernabeu after spending six-and-a-half seasons in Spain since joining from River Plate in 2006, and Arsene Wenger is believed to be keen to make the Argentine a part of his squad for the forthcoming season.

 

Higuain has been linked with a number of European clubs including Juventus and Napoli, but the striker's agent believes that the Gunners are the nearest to clinching his signature.

 

"I can't deny that Gonzalo is now close to Arsenal."
Nicolas Higuain

 

"I think that Higuain is now closer to Arsenal," he told TMW.

"Juventus are a great club, but Gonzalo is too expensive for them. Napoli are a strong side and that place represents a lot for Argentines.

 

"Saying that, I can't deny that Gonzalo is now close to Arsenal."


Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez is in Italy for talks with Juventus

Carlos Tevez has arrived in Italy for his medical as he closes in on a move to Juventus from Manchester City.

 

The Argentine ace has travelled from his homeland to undergo a medical after Juventus agreed a fee with City on Tuesday for his signature.

 

Tevez was greeted at Milan Malpensa international airport by almost 200 people before making his way to Turin for talks and a medical at Juve.

 

The 29-year-old is expected to sign a three-year deal with the Italian champions if he agrees personal terms and passes a medical.

 

Tevez was also met by hundreds of Juve fans after making the trip to Turin and Juventus sporting director Beppe Marotta believes the arrival of the forward is a major coup for the Italian side.

 

"This enthusiasm was needed. Tevez has been really a big coup" Marotta told Gazzetta.it

 

The move will end Tevez's four-year spell at City after joining the club from bitter rivals in the summer of 2009.

 

Tevez made 148 appearances for City, scoring 73 goals, although he was also fined and suspended by them following the infamous Champions League match at Bayern Munich in 2011 before regaining his place in the side and helping them win the Premier League title in 2012.


25/06/2013

Perez: Madrid are Ferraris, Mou didn’t dent us


The 66-year-old insists Jose Mourinho helped the progression of the team and did nothing to tarnish the club's image

Club president Florentino Perez has defended Jose Mourinho insisting he has done nothing to damage the Real Madrid brand.


Barcelona players such as Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique and Xavi had all accused the Portuguese coach of tarnishing the reputation of not only Madrid but Spanish football in general.


Mourinho failed to achieve what was arguably his most important goal and win la Decima, the 10th European Cup, but despite this and the negative publicity the 50-year-old has received, Perez is adamant Mourinho has done nothing to harm the image of the club.


“Mourinho has helped us to make a qualitative leap which is very important. I never tire of repeating, he has not sullied the image of Madrid,” he told 20minutos.


“Failure is not being in the semi-finals [of the Champions League].


"I always give the example of F1, Ferrari does not always win, but they are the team that everybody knows. In football, that brand is Real Madrid.”


The Madrid president also touched on the conflict between goalkeeper and coach that resulted in Iker Casillas being dropped to the bench, losing his place to Diego Lopez as los Blancos' No.1.


“There came a time when Mourinho gave a warning to Casillas, but he does so with all players," he added.


"Then came the injury to Iker; we had to bring Diego Lopez in and he won the job.


“Mourinho has not cheated anyone. He is what he is: very demanding and he justifies those demands. The club always put their faith in him and the one who best explained it has always been Iker.


“There have been some media that have used him [Casillas] to go against Mou. I am sure Iker will earn the confidence of the [new] coach through his work and his efforts, not because the media want to pick the team line-ups.


“With Mourinho we can reach many agreements, but none of them the type that does not allow him to speak. It will not change his personality.


“He criticised the forms, but not the bottom. He requires success and motivation. He has also suffered a lot of wear in these three years.


"Madrid signed Mourinho to strike a blow at the table and reclaim the place we should never have lost.”


Perez revealed on Monday that he is close to ending his search for a coach with Paris Saint-Germain's Carlo Ancelotti expected to complete a move within the next few days.


Cuba U20 0-3 Nigeria U20: Umar Aminu brace inspires Flying Eagles win The Flying Eagles of Nigeria secured their first win at the 2013 Fifa World Youth Championship

Nigeria got their campaign back into gear with a victory over Cuba at the Fifa World Youth Championships in Turkey on Monday.

A brace from Umar Aminu and a well taken header by Abdul Ajagun were all John Obuh's team needed to silence the Caribbean side.

 


The Flying Eagles started brightly with Kayode Olarenwaju running endlessly at the Cuban defence which created some moment of panic for the team led by Raul Gonzalez. Though the Concacaf fourth best youth side forced their way back through Yordan Santa Cruz and Adrian Diz Pe, their shots on goal did not trouble Chukwunenye Okani who was in goal for Nigeria.

After several minutes of a ding-dong affair, Umar got the curtain raiser in the 19th minute with a simple tap in after receiving a sublime pass from Kayode Olarenwaju who breezed into the opponents’ goal area from the midfield.

Nigeria could have added the second a minute later, but Chidi Osuchukwu’s shot was off the mark. The second goal came in the 23rd minute through Umar who finished off an uncleared ball in the Cuban defence off a corner kick.

The goal proved to be the tonic the Obuh boys needed as they dominated all departments of the game but poor finishing was their major undoing as Ajagun, Osuchukwu and Kayode took turns to blow away begging chances. Even Michael Olaitan’s ferocious shot outside the Islanders’ penalty area in the 26th minute was only good enough for the wood work.

On resumption of the second half, the Nigerians continued their dominance but were wasteful in front of goal. Olarenwaju came one on one thrice with the goalie but fluffed those chances, as Edafe Egbedi who replaced Chidi Osuchukwu had his own share of misses too.

Abdul Ajagun gave the Flying Eagles an unassailable lead in the 67th minute heading home a floater that gave goalkeeper Sandy Sanchez no chance.

Even with the introduction Darion Perez, Cuba failed to get the cutting edge, as the Flying Eagles front men continued to throw away clear cut chances with Olarenwaju the main culprit.

Ajagun failed to increase his goal tally in the tournament to four after he threw away a stoppage time penalty kick.

The Flying Eagles will tackle Korea Republic in the last group game on Thursday at the Ali Sami Yen Arena in Istanbul.
 


South Africans Resign To Faith Over Nelson Mandela's Health Condition


Former President Nelson Mandela remains in critical condition in hospital last night. But his family said no matter what, it would not give up. The 94-year-old former South African president suffered a sudden deterioration in his health Sunday night. He was taken to the hospital over two weeks ago for treatment for a recurrent lung infection.

Many South African have resigned to faith over his worsening health condition. They are praying to God to prolong his life and also acknowledging the fact that the end may not be far away.

His eldest daughter Makaziwe told CNN the family would not end his medical treatment.

She said: “In our culture, the Tembu culture, that I know, the African culture that I know you never release the person unless the person has told you ‘please my children, my family release me’. My dad hasn’t said that to us. So these people who want to talk about, you know, release him, he hasn’t said we should release him and we haven’t come to the end yet. It is only God who knows the end.”

She added that she believed her father was at peace. She said: “Yes, I believe he is at peace. He is at peace with himself. He has given so much to the world I believe he is at peace.”

His granddaughter Ndileka added: “His fighting spirit is what amazes me. I don’t know what keeps him fighting and he is stoic and determined, that I will end things my way. Not any other person’s way. I strongly feel that whatever covenant he has made with his ancestors and god has not been fulfilled, when that is fulfilled he will bow out in a way that he chooses.”

Two of his granddaughters Swati Dlamini and Zaziwe Dlamini-Manaway yesterday tweeted in support of their ill grandfather, describing him as their ‘rock’.

They wrote: “He is our rock, we are firmly glued together because of him. We are UNITED!”

Their message came just a few hours after they asked supporters to pray for him. They posted: “Let us never forget to pray. God lives. He is near. He is real. He is not only aware of us but cares for us.”

News of Mandela’s condition emerged after he was visited by South African President Jacob Zuma Sunday night. The South African president yesterday urged his countrymen to pray for the ‘father of democracy’.

He said: “Madiba (Mandela’s clan name) is critical in the hospital, and this is the father of democracy. This is the man who fought and sacrificed his life to stay in prison, the longest-serving prisoner in South Africa. He is one of those who has contributed to democracy. All of us in the country should accept the fact that Madiba is now old. As he ages, his health will … trouble him and I think what we need to do as a country is to pray for him.”

Speaking at a news conference, he added: “The doctors are doing everything possible to ensure his well-being and comfort.”

Pressed for further details on Nelson Mandela’s health, President Jacob Zuma said: “I can’t tell you what is wrong with him … I am not a doctor.”

He confirmed that he had seen Mandela in hospital last night, and that he had been asleep at the time. He said he had discussions with the doctors and with Mr Mandela’s wife.

Zuma said he was briefed by Mr Mandela’s medical team and told that his condition had ‘become critical over the past 24 hours’.

Zuma, in a statement, said: “The doctors are doing everything possible to get his condition to improve and are ensuring that Madiba is well-looked after and is comfortable. He is in good hands.”

Despite previous claims that Mandela’s health had been improving after battling a recurring lung infection, it emerged in the early hours of Saturday that he had become unresponsive.

It was reported that his liver and kidney functions were down to 50 per cent and he had not opened his eyes for days.

Mandela recently underwent two procedures at Pretoria Hospital, one to repair a bleeding ulcer and another to insert a tube into his body.

Last night, his immediate family was said to be discussing whether to withdraw treatment.

It followed revelations that the ambulance which took Mandela to Pretoria hospital earlier this month broke down en route, leaving him stranded on the roadside for 40 minutes in winter temperatures.

South African government officials have said ‘great care was taken to ensure that Mandela’s health was not compromised and that his doctors were satisfied the former president suffered no harm.’

Mandela has been hospitalised four times since December but last night’s confirmation of his grave condition is by far the most downbeat report ever given about his health.

The status of Mandela is likely to overshadow the visit later this week to South Africa by US President Barack Obama. But Zuma said the vist would go on.

“If it’s his time to go, he can go. I wish God can look after him,” said nurse Petunia Mafuyeka, as she headed to work in Johannesburg.

“We will miss him very much. He fought to give us freedom will ensure forever. We will remember him every day. When he goes I will cry,” she said.

There were some concerns among the public about doctors trying to prolong the life of South Africa’s first black president, one of the 20th Century’s most influential figures.

“I’m worried that they’re keeping him alive. I feel they should let him go,” said Doris Lekalakala, a claims manager. “The man is old. Let nature take its course. He must just rest.”

The news of his condition has led to increase in the number of reporters hanging around the hospital not wanting to be beaten to the great story of the decade. More security men have also been drafted to the area.

Police kill abductors of Lagos council chief


Seven among the suspected kidnappers of the Chairman of Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Lagos State, Mr Kehinde Bamigbetan, have been killed by the police , it was learnt yesterday.

Two others were arrested alive by the crack team that carried out the operation.

Those arrested are: Ogbonna Emenike, 27 and Uchenna Nwanyu, 25, who were paraded alongside the bodies of their deceased members by Lagos Police chief Umar Manko in the afternoon, yesterday.

A combined team of the State Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) led by Superintendent (SP) Abba Kyari killed the suspects at Agbara, a Lagos suburb, shortly after they abducted an Indian, Vivex Chagrani and brought him to the hide-out early yesterday.

The Indian was said to have been kidnapped in Ikoyi area of Lagos on his way back from night outing.

The victim was rescued unhurt during an exchange of gunfire with the police when the two were arrested.

It was learnt that two other suspects were shot in the leg.

One of the suspects, Nwanyu said:  “My boss and his wife told me that they were into drug trafficking. I was surprised to see that he is the leader of the kidnapping gang.”

Recovered from them include four AK 47 rifles, 28 AK 47 fully loaded magazines, over 1,000 live ammunition, army uniforms, one CRV Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) marked, ABC 106 AE and a Nissan Pathfinder marked, No. AGL730AZ.

Manko said: “Based on painstaking follow-up, surveillance and tracking of Ghana-based Nigerian kidnappers who kidnapped Ejigbo Local Government Chairman, Hon. Kehinde Bamgbetan, a sitting Federal High Court Judge and another notable individual in Lagos, O/C SARS, SP Abba Kyari led a team of crack detectives to a suburb in Agbara, Ogun State, where the kidnappers have their camp.

“After 72 hours of waiting in an ambush, Kyari and his team cordoned off and stormed the house where all the kidnappers had gathered at about 3am. As a result, seven of them were fatally wounded during heavy gun battle between the kidnappers and SARS operatives”.

He said two of the gang members were arrested with arms charms and operational vehicles among others.


Reps kick against UK’s planned £3,000 visa bond for Nigerians

 

Minister of Foreign Affairs Olugbenga Ashiru said yesterday that the Federal Government will defend the interest of Nigerians on consular related issues with foreign countries.

Ashiru spoke in Abuja following a proposal by the United Kingdom to introduce a bond of 3,000 pounds (N750, 000) for intending visitors from Nigeria and five other countries.

Speaking at the 2013 Ministerial Platform, Ashiru reiterated that the UK government was yet to officially notify Nigeria on the proposal scheduled to start in November.

“Really, we have received no official communication from the UK government.

“When we receive communication from them, we will study whatever proposal they are trying to do but I can assure all Nigerians that President Jonathan’s government will defend the interest of Nigerians by whatever means it can.’’

The House of Representatives Foreign Affairs committee kicked against the policy. Chair of the Diaspora Committee Abike Dabiri –Erewa asked Nigeria to adopt the principle of reciprocity if the UK insists on the visa bond from Nigerians traveling to Britain. She suggested a N5million bond for any Briton seeking Nigerian visa as a visitor.

Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, Ms. Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje described the visa bond as discriminatory and unacceptable. She said the House of Representatives would take a critical look at the policy as it affects Nigerians and come up with a way forward. Dabiri-Erewa said: “Nigeria should adopt the principle of reciprocity. If they ask us to pay £3,000, let their citizens also pay N5million visa bond.

“This is a discriminatory policy and it is unacceptable. Do not forget that we are a member of the Commonwealth, what are we going to enjoy if they could impose such a discriminatory policy?

“I am quite sure that France will not impose visa bond on their former colonies. The UK Government should reverse it or else we should pay them back in equal measure.

“The Federal Government should not allow the situation to lie low; it should reject it and make it reciprocal.

“When South Africa said we should be paying N100, 000 visa bond and we reciprocated, it quickly stopped the policy.

“If Nigerian and Indian doctors withdraw their services in the UK, their health sector will collapse.

Elendu-Ukeje described the new UK visa bond as discriminatory and unacceptable.

In a statement in Abuja, the lawmaker said such policy was not in the best interest of Nigeria and Nigerians.

She said: “This is totally discriminatory and unacceptable. It is target to non-white Commonwealth.

“They should realise that it is not in the best interest of UK. We will as a country, going to look at it vis-a- vis our citizens and come up with a decision.

“We agree totally with our Foreign Minister that the policy is totally unworkable and impractical’’.

“It is contrary to the commitment made to our President by Prime Minister David Cameron during their last meeting. We believe it is for political reason ahead of general elections.

“We seek that our long historical relationship should take precedence over political expediency.”

The minister admitted that the biggest challenge facing the present administration’s foreign policy thrust was the welfare of Nigerians abroad.

He said Nigeria missions abroad had been directed to pay utmost attention to the needs of Nigerians abroad, particularly the plight of Nigerians in various prisons abroad.

He acknowledged that many Nigerians were stranded abroad in prisons and that the affected Nigerians had continued to suffer various forms of discriminations in their host countries.

According to the minister, over 9000 Nigerians are currently serving prisons terms abroad, with the largest number of 752 in the UK.

“Most of the remaining prisoners are concentrated in the Asia – Pacific region and a good number of them are on death row.

“We are concluding Prisoners’ Transfer Agreement (PTA) with all those countries, such as United Kingdom, Thailand, Japan, China, Indonesia, Switzerland, South Africa, Mozambique, Angola and Hong Kong, so that we can bring home these Nigerians to complete their prison terms.

“I wish to seize this opportunity to appeal to members of different groups; the media, civil societies, religious groups, traditional rulers, etc, to join hands in the education of our youths in an enlightenment campaign against trafficking in drugs, in particular, and other social vices in general. “This assignment should not be left alone to Governments at different levels to handle.’’

On the much-talked about reopening of Information Centres abroad, the minister appealed to the Federal Ministry of Information to ensure proper funding for the centres.

“All I will appeal is that when it starts, they must be well funded; I do not want cases where you send information officers abroad and after nine months or six months the funding will be tied.

“You must ensure proper funding and we in the ministry of foreign affairs are in favour of this move because three or four heads are better than one’.

Jonathan, Amaechi in battle to host governors


President’s planned dinner clashes with NGF meeting

The battle for the control of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) resumed yesterday, with elected Chairman Rotimi Amaechi summoning a meeting of members for tomorrow in Abuja.

In what was seen by observers as an apparent bid to frustrate the meeting, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday invited all governors for what a source termed as a “curious” dinner.

The timing of the presidential dinner coincides with the NGF meeting’s time. The agenda remained unclear, as at press time last night. But there was the suspicion that it was meant to break the rank of the 19 governors who re-elected Amaechi.

But the Amaechi group has vowed to go ahead with the NGF meeting instead of the “emergency” presidential dinner.

This is the first meeting Amaechi is calling after last month’s disputed NGF election.

Amaechi won 19 votes to beat Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang, who got 16 votes. Yobe State Goveror Ibrahim Gaidam abstained from voting.

But Jang has continued to lay claim to the chairmanship, claiming that he won because Northern governors chose him as their consensus candidate. He has the backing of the Presidency and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Jang, who has rented an office in Abuja for his faction of the NGF, last Monday called a meeting. Only 16 governors attended.

A Press Officer of the NGF Secretariat, Chidimma Onyenalim, in a notice of the meeting yesterday, said: “There will be a meeting of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) on Wednesday 26th June, 2013. Time: 8.00pm prompt. Venue: Rivers State Governor’s Lodge, No. 5 Justice Mohammed Bello Street, Asokoro, Abuja.”

The agenda of the meeting: Chairman’s brief on NGF in the news, fresh and subsisting litigations; visit to the NGF secretariat, update on Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), Excess Crude Account (ECA) and Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF), update on State Peer Review Mechanism (SPRM) and other issues.

The meeting will also deliberate on polio eradication initiative: Structuring a programme to address emerging challenges, Post election disagreements, NGF and its partners, NGF strategy plan 2013-2015 and AOB.

A governor told our correspondent last night that the Governor’s Forum meetings are held once a month on the eve of the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting.

He said there was no need to meet “until it is time, which is now”. Those calling meetings every week are those looking for legitimacy,” he said.

The NGF meeting will precede the NEC meeting on Thursday.

Following a likely boycott by some governors branding Jang as their leader, some pro-Amaechi governors, who went on official trip abroad, have been recalled.

Another governor, who spoke in confidence, said: “This is our major meeting after the election of the NGF chairman, Governor Rotimi Amaechi and we will make sure that all of us are there to prove that we are standing by Amaechi.

“As a matter of fact, some G-19 members scheduled to travel abroad have suspended it. And those currently overseas for investment drive have been recalled. For instance, Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido is expected to fly into the country tomorrow to be part of the meeting.

“The sacrifice we are making underscores our agitation for untainted democracy, not only at the NGF level, but in all facets of our national life.”

Another governor said: “When they heard that the authentic NGF meeting would hold, all the 36 governors have been invited to the Presidential Villa for a curious dinner. The dinner is fixed for the same time we are expected to start the NGF session. No governor can really say the motive of the dinner.

“Well, we prefer the NGF meeting to a dinner. The Presidency is trying to use the dinner to divide the Forum. We know the other 16 governors following Jang may opt for the dinner but we will prefer to go hungry to protect the nation’s democracy than go for food.”

To the governor, the Presidency is being jittery that the Amaechi group will have the majority of the NGF members at our meeting. The design is to deplete our ranks with dinner but it will not work,” he said.

“Well, we see the NGF meeting convened by Amaechi as our normal session on a monthly basis before the meeting of the NEC. Until the Presidency meddled in the affairs of the NGF, we used to meet normally once in a month,” he said.

Asked whether the NGF meeting could disrupted by forces opposed to Amaechi, the governor replied: “We do not envisage that; they won’t go to such a ridiculous level. But if they do so, Nigerians will now know their intention.

“You know they have been sponsoring some suits against the authentic NGF but they cannot go far. All the 19 governors backing Amaechi will be in Abuja on Wednesday.”

 

(News Source: The Nation)

24/06/2013

03b Satellite to Deliver Fast Broadband

O3b satellite network debuts today in Kourou, French Guiana with a promise of bringing fast broadband to billions of people in the developing world.

A release from the satellite company indicates that O3b’s fast fiber speed satellite network will provide fast, effective and efficient infrastructure conducive for 21st century communications in many parts of the world, including Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific.

According to the release, “They will operate in medium Earth Orbit, reducing the network cost and latency or delay that web users experience when loading a web page. This will help connect consumers in the developing world (“the other 3 billion” or O3b) who currently lack proper internet access. A new and exciting world will open to billions of people who, up to now, have not experienced the benefits of fast Internet connectivity.”

The network of satellites, the release said, will deliver broadband connectivity everywhere on Earth within 45 degrees of latitude north and south of the equator, including markets in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, markets where demand is expected to remain higher than supply over the coming years.

The network of O3b satellites includes customers such as Etisalat, Digicel and Royal Caribbean Cruises while investors include Google, SES, Liberty Global and HSBC.

23/06/2013

France, Spain to Probe Google Privacy Law

 

 According to the British Broadcasting Service (BBC), Spain has launched proceedings against Google over five suspected serious data breaches. The probe is coming even as France has given the search giant three months to rethink its privacy rules. The European Union in October, 2012 the EU warned Google that its data protection laws did not comply with a directive and gave the company four months to change them.

Nigeria Among ‘High-risk’ Nations to Pay £3,000 Cash Bond for UK Visit



According to a Sunday Times report, visitors from Nigeria to the United Kingdom 

may be forced to pay a hefty cash bond of  £3,000 starting from November, before they can enter the UK. The report stated that the move will target  at least five other African and Asian countries including Ghana, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The scheme which will initially target hundreds of visitors will be extended to several thousands in the near future. The move will also make tourists aged 18 and above to pay the cash bond for a 6-month visit visa which will be forfeited once they overstayed their visit in Great Britain.