Christmas Time Celebration And New Year Regrets

The time is here once again. It is a time of merriment. It is Christmas period. It is a time of celebration of achievements for the year. It is a period when it dawns on every body that the year is almost gone and another knocking at the door. Hence it is a time when those who did not accomplish anything try most, by fair or foul means, to within the short range of time achieve all, acquire all the wealth they would have gotten from January. Therefore cheating, robbery, accidents and every manner of evil one can think of are at their peak because men want to meet up.
To this set of people Christmas time is not just a time to get all. It is also a period to spend all in celebration. That is to say that all efforts they are making to get rich quick is just like a mission to nowhere. For these people Christmas is simply a squander-time.
It is the same set of people that suffer hardship at the beginning of the year. What is a lesson for us here is how they live the next year to regret the wrong choices of previous year’s Christmas period. Of course hardship and regret are sure for them because they spent all in the name of merriment without saving for the coming year. The majority of the world population belongs to this category. That is why the majority complain at the beginning of every year.
What then is the gain we have in celebrating when we know that we shall regret it? Do not get it twisted here. I am not against Christmas celebration. But it should be done in a wise manner. Celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ but do not loot your treasure. Have a plan for next year. Economic activities are usually low at the beginning of every year. So beware to store up or save for next year to avoid had I known.
Do you want to empty your bank account/s this season for celebration? Have a rethink today!
Please, try to remember this: there is no day as wonderful as the Christmas day, but it is good to know what to overlook in every situation. This is what makes you wise. Christmas should be a moment of solemn reflection and reconciliation with the only Almighty God, who created heaven and earth, and made man in his own image. Nothing can take away the joy that Christmas brings, but try to be wise in your spending. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR IN ADVANCE!!!

Another Crushing Defeat For The Red Devils

Bobby Zamora's golden spell of form continued as Fulham cruised past a desperately disappointing Manchester United at Craven Cottage.

Zamora - touted for an England call-up in some quarters - scored his 10th goal of a prolific season and was Fulham's spearhead as they gave an injury-hit United side a harrowing afternoon.

Danny Murphy, a scourge of United when at Liverpool and now again with Fulham, put the skids under United with a low finish after 22 minutes and the champions, with Michael Owen anonymous up front, never looked like mounting a recovery.

606: DEBATE
This season is virtually a write off as far as the league is concerned and we're not even at Christmas - Ferguson has got a lot of explaining to do...

rusholmeruffians

Zamora was on the scoresheet seconds after the interval when he provided a comprehensive finish from Clint Dempsey's header, and Damien Duff's powerful drive completed a hugely-deserved victory for Roy Hodgson's side after 75 minutes.

But it was Zamora who took the honours as he terrorised a makeshift United rearguard, with Darren Fletcher and Michael Carrick pressed into service in unaccustomed roles.

The striker has had a chequered relationship with Fulham's fans, but there was no doubting he has won over his critics and he was greeted with a well-earned standing ovation when he was substituted in injury time.

We've come a long way declares proud Hodgson

United, under-strength or not, were awful and fell woefully short of taking advantage of an opportunity to put pressure on Chelsea and Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table.

Sir Alex Ferguson was without Nemanja Vidic, sidelined by a calf injury, and Ryan Giggs was also out with a hamstring problem. How the champions missed them.

Tomasz Kuszczak rescued United after 17 minutes with an instinctive one-handed save from Zoltan Gera after Zamora chested the ball into his path 12 yards out.

But the goalkeeper should have done better when Fulham took the lead five minutes later.

United did not handle the pressure - Phelan

Paul Scholes was guilty of conceding possession 25 yards out and Murphy - scorer of Fulham's opener in their 2-0 home victory over United last season - sent a low shot past Kuszczak, who reacted late to the danger.

Scholes was then guilty of more carelessness on the ball that almost saw Fulham double their lead 14 minutes before half-time. Gera was able to find space on the right flank, but Zamora could only direct a header wide under close attention from Fletcher.

Ferguson's hopes of a fast start to the second half were in shreds within seconds of the restart as Fulham swept forward instantly to double their lead. Duff's cross was met by Dempsey at the far post, and he set up Zamora to hammer past Kuszczak.

Schwarzer hails fantastic start to season

United made a double change after 57 minutes, with Ritchie de Laet and Darron Gibson making way for Fabio da Silva and Dimitar Berbatov.

Owen had suffered a miserable afternoon, starved of any meaningful service and unable to make the slightest impact on events, and it was no surprise when he was replaced by Danny Welbeck.

If the move was designed to revive United, it failed and Fulham extended their lead after 75 minutes when Duff cashed in on Zamora's excellent lay-off to strike a crisp finish low past Kuszczak.

There was still time for the keeper to deny a rampant Zamora one more time before referee Howard Webb put United out of their misery.

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson:
"It gives us an awful lot of pleasure. We were fortunate in that we played against a very wounded United but we couldn't do more than try to take advantage of that.

"The reward is a result of the hard work we put in week after week in training and matches - it's not just because we hyped ourselves up for one superhuman effort.

"Before Bobby gets seriously considered for and England call-up he has a lot of work to do. But if Fabio Capello wants to look at him he know where he is.

"I will never push a player in the direction of a national team coach but If he needs any information on Bobby I'm happy to help out."
BBC Sport

Iran troops 'seize Iraq oil well'

An Iraqi official played down the incident, saying the area was abandoned and right on a disputed border section.

Iranian soldiers crossed the border and raised an Iranian flag over the Fakkah oil field, a US military spokesman told the AFP news agency.

But an Iranian oil company spokesman denied the accusation, saying no troops had taken control of any oil well.

"The company denies Iranian soldiers taking control of any oil well inside Iraqi territory," the National Iranian Oil Company spokesman was quoted as saying by Iranian media.

Confirmation

Iraq's Deputy Interior Minister confirmed the Iranians stayed in Iraq and were in control of the well.

We are awaiting orders from our leader
Ahmed Ali al-Khafaji
Deputy Interior Minister

Earlier it was reported that they had withdrawn back across the border.

Deputy Interior Minister Ahmed Ali al-Khafaji initially told the Reuters news agency the reports of the Iranian incursion were not true.

But Mr Khafaji later confirmed the incursion had taken place, and said 11 Iranians had dug-in at the oil well and had not left.

"At 3:30 this afternoon, 11 Iranian soldiers infiltrated the Iran-Iraq border and took control of the oil well. They raised the Iranian flag, and they are still there until this moment," he told the Reuters news agency.

He said there had been no military response from Iraqi forces..

"We are awaiting orders from our leader," he said.

The incursion is one of several that have occurred in the last few days, he said.

The well is about 500m from an Iranian border fort and about 1km from an Iraqi fort, US Colonel Peter Newell told AFP.
BBC News

Boys aged 10 charged with raping eight-year-old

Two 10-year-old boys have been charged with raping a girl in west London.

Each faces two counts of attacking a female under the age of 13 following advice from the Crown Prosecution Service, the Metropolitan Police said.

They were arrested after an eight-year-old alleged she had been assaulted while playing in a park off College Way, Hayes, on 27 October.

The pair, who cannot be named for legal reasons, are due to appear at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court on Thursday.

Police were called by the girl's family after she returned home from the park.

Officers from the specialist Sapphire Unit, which investigates allegations of rape and sexual assault, have been dealing with the case.
BBC News

Analyst says Africa Should Solve its Own Problems Before Asking For Climate Change Help

Negotiators from around the world say key differences remain at the climate change conference in Copenhagen as talks resumed Tuesday.

One African representative, Nigeria's Victor Fodeke, compared them to a train crash waiting to happen. The African delegates briefly walked out of the talks Monday to protest what they said were efforts by rich nations to undermine the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. Afterwards, they were told their voices would be heard.

One analyst disagreed with the decision to walk out. “I think it is not a wise idea for Africa to walk away from the talks because we have had voices from all over the world, particularly from Africa, calling for more funding and funds for technology,” said Gabriel Odima, president of the U.S.-based Africa Center for Peace and Democracy.

“We have also had the blame game and finger-pointing before and during negotiations, particularly during this week,” he added. “But there is a missing link between Africa and developed countries. Until we discover that missing link, there is very little Africa can achieve from this conference.”

The problem, said Odima, is that Africans are under siege from both the impact of climate change and what he called their corrupt leaders. “There is no amount of money that will change the crisis in Africa unless we address the fundamental issues of democracy, good governance, rule of law and accountability.”

The treaty requires rich countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions but does not ask the same of poor nations and developing economies. An extension of the Kyoto Protocol, which is set to expire in 2012, will be considered, according to officials.
VOA News

Uganda Bans Female Genital Mutilation

FGM involves the removal of all or part of the female genitalia. Sometimes the remaining flesh is stitched closed, a practice called infibulation, leaving only a tiny opening for urination and menstruation, and making intercourse and childbirth painful.

Many human and gender rights activists say the practice puts girls under serious health risk, sometimes resulting in death.

Different levels of punishment are codified in the act for those who violate the ban. Anyone caught doing FGM on a girl will be sent to jail for 10 years - but if the girl dies during the act, a life sentence is to be imposed.

A number of African nations have outlawed the customary practice, but in many of those countries FGM is still common.

Nalule Safia Juuko, vice chair of the Ugandan Parliamentary Committee on Equal Opportunities, cautioned that the passage of this law was only a first step.

"But of course we realize as Parliament that an act alone can not do so much, given the fact that the practice has been an issue with that community for years and years," she said. "So what we also considered as Parliament yesterday, the Speaker asked the prime minister to tell us what the government is going to do in addition to passing the act," said Juuko.

She said that funds need to be allocated to run a sensitization campaign within the communities where FGM is still widespread. She also suggested that a program needs to be set up to provide an alternative income to those who act as the operation's surgeons.

She expressed strong support for the level of punishments put into the law.

"The act is providing punishments, and not simple punishments. I think people will have to re-think if they go on to practice FGM," she said.

The operation is practiced only within a few certain communities in Uganda, most of whom live in the northeastern part of the country.

The operation is usually performed on a girl at any time up until she is 15 years old.

According to the World Health Organization, up to 140 million living women globally have undergone genital mutilation. Three million girls are thought to be at risk of the procedure in Africa every year.
VOA News

Climate Conference Opens in Copenhagen

The U.N. Climate Change conference opened in Copenhagen, Denmark Monday with some 15,000 delegates and observers from nearly 200 countries attending what is being billed the last best chance for an agreement to combat global warming.

"A warm welcome to Copenhagen and to the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2009"

The opening words to delegates, experts and activists from around the world gathered here in Copenhagen for the next two weeks.

Their task is to find common ground, including on reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, promotion and transfer of new more eco-friendly technology and the necessary funding to make this possible, especially for the less developed and poorer nations. It also means coming up with long term vision and cooperation for the future.

The U.N.'s top climate official, Yvo de Boer issued a stark reminder that the clock has run out.

"The time for formal statements is over. The time for re-stating well known positions is past," said Yvo de Boer. "The time has come to reach out to each other. I urge you to build on your achievements, take up the work that has already been done and turn it into action."

Many countries have put proposals to reduce emissions on the table, including the United States, China and South Africa.

There have been strong statements from world leaders on the need to forge agreement, even though differences on timing, approach, burden sharing and funding remain.

The Copenhagen conference was to come up with a binding agreement to succeed the 1997 Kyoto Protocol which mandated emissions cuts, but was not signed by some of the world's biggest polluters, including the United States. Kyoto expires in 2012. But many say a political framework is more likely at Copenhagen, with a binding accord to be worked out possibly next year.

Denmark's Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen reminded delegates the time to act is now and for everyone.

"Global warming knows no borders, it does not discriminate, it affects us all and we are here today because we are all committed to take action," he said.

The prime minister said he believes a deal is possible. Delegates have just over a week to prove him right - before more than 100 heads of state and government come here. Conference organizers hope they'll have a deal on the table for signing.
VOA News

Iran's Supreme Leader Blames West for Student Protests

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei blasted the United States and other Western countries for stirring up trouble inside Iran, a day before students are expected to hold peaceful demonstrations on university campuses across Iran.

Both the Iranian government and student opposition activists are gearing up for what many are expecting will be a large turnout of demonstrators, Monday, on university campuses across the country.

December 7 is known as "national students' day" in Iran, and it marks the anniversary of the 1953 slaying of three students by Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlevi's security forces, following a coup against populist Prime Minister Mohammed Mosadegh, earlier that year

Eyewitnesses say hundreds of students have received threatening emails, this week, warning them not to participate in Monday's demonstrations. Pro-government Basij militia members are also reported to be present in large numbers on campuses across the country.

Internet connection speeds in Iran are also reported to be extremely slow, amid word the government is again trying to hamper communications between Iranians and the outside world. Foreign media have also been warned not to cover Monday's rallies.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei lashed out against the West, saying it was responsible for sowing discord inside the country.

He says that today, the propaganda of arrogant nations of the world is the main source for the existence of conflict inside Iran.

The Ayatollah also used extremely virulent language against the United States and Britain, calling them Iran's top enemies.

He says Americans are at the top of Iran's list of enemies and the British are the most dreadful of those enemies. He also asserted the United States and other nations have tried to isolate Iran for the last 30 years, but have failed and will continue to fail.

Meanwhile, security forces reportedly arrested a number of women protesters at a Tehran park, who meet regularly to protest their children's detention in government prisons.

The Iranian government arrested hundreds of student activists, journalists, intellectuals, political leaders and professors during weeks of unrest following a disputed June 12 presidential election that incumbent Mahmoud Ahmedinejad claims to have won, despite complaints of widespread vote-rigging.

Analyst Ali Nourizadeh, of the London-based Center for Arab and Iranian Studies, says the Iranian government is doing its best to prevent students from protesting, but he thinks student determination to go ahead with Monday's rallies is stronger:

"The regime has already started four, five weeks ago arresting students. And many students received warnings that they will be expelled from universities, and [the government] has sent hundreds of their basij and basij students to certain universities," he said. "Therefore, they are prepared, but I think the determination, and students will to show their strength, to show that they are not frightened, ... is stronger than the regime's intimidation and threats."

Nourizadeh also says that the students have reportedly invited their parents to participate, in order to prevent security forces from attacking them.

Iran's top police official, Esmail Ahmadi-Moghaddem, told a Tehran newspaper that any "illegal gathering outside universities will be harshly dealt with."
VOA News

Woman and her two sons killed in crash near Aviemore

A mother and her two sons have been killed in a car crash near Aviemore in the Highlands.

Another car and a 4x4 vehicle were involved in the collision, which happened on the A95 at about 0920 GMT.

The woman, aged 36, and her sons, aged 13 and 11, had been travelling in one car, Northern Constabulary said.

Police have closed the road while officers carry out an investigation, and motorists are being asked to avoid the area.

Speaking at the scene, Sgt Jim Pryde from Northern Constabulary told BBC Scotland: "At this time police investigators are carrying out inquiries at the locus into a tragic incident.

"We would ask anybody that may have been in the area at the time and has information for us if they could contact the police."

The Scottish Ambulance Service said three ambulances and a helicopter had attended the crash.

One male casualty was taken to Aviemore health centre with minor injuries.

BBC News

Explosion in Russian nightclub 'kills scores'

An explosion has torn through a nightclub in the Russian city of Perm, killing at least 76 people.

Another 60 people were injured in the blast, the city's emergency services told the BBC.

About 200 people are said to have been in the club, named as the Lame Horse, when the blast occurred at 2315 local time (2015 GMT).

Police are investigating whether the accident was caused by two large firework displays.

A spokesman for the prosecutor-general's main investigative unit told Itar-Tass news agency this was not a terrorist attack.

"We are talking about a failure to observe fire regulations," he said.

Smoke inhalation

The nightclub had been celebrating its eighth anniversary, the emergency services said.

It is believed that most victims died from smoke inhalation, they added.

Russian state-run TV channel Vesti-24 showed images of bodies piled in the street outside the club.

News agencies quoted officials as saying there was no blaze following the blast.

Perm is some 1,400km (870 miles) east of Moscow and has a population of 1.2 million. It is the sixth largest city in Russia.

The Lame Horse nightclub is located in the city centre, reports said.

BBC News

Bank of America to repay bail-out

Bank of America says it plans to repay its $45bn (£27bn) US government bail-out and raise extra capital.

It received the loans during the credit crisis last year and after the purchase of Merrill Lynch.

The move would allow Bank of America to free itself from government restrictions on executive pay that were a stipulation of granting the funds.

That will help the bank in its search to find a new chief executive after Ken Lewis retires at the end of the year.

The restrictions on executive pay have reportedly been hampering the search.

Bank of America said it had sold $19.3bn in securities on Thursday evening, which it will use to pay off part of the debt. The total value was higher than the $18.8bn expected.

Before the sale Bank of America had also planned to use $26.2bn in available cash to make up the difference.

Bank of America spokesman Bob Stickler said repaying the loan would removes "the stigma that we've had as a company".

"We become more attractive to a CEO [chief executive] candidate. Whether that means we get somebody external is impossible to say," he added.

Loss making


It removes some overhang so hopefully a CEO can come in with a clean slate
Alan Villalon, First American Funds

Analysts said the loan was being repaid much earlier than anticipated.

Last month, the bank reported a $1bn net loss for the three months from July to September, which was worse than had been expected.

The figure compares with a net profit of $3.2bn in the previous quarter and $1.2bn in the same period of last year.

Search for a successor

Bank of America agreed to buy Merrill in September 2008 in a deal worth $50bn - a decision for which Mr Lewis later drew much criticism.

As the crisis in the financial sector deepened, the bank subsequently needed $25bn in capital injections from the government's Troubled Assets Relief Program, known as Tarp.

At the start of this year, it then required a further $20bn.

US lawmakers have accused the Treasury and the Federal Reserve of "putting a gun to the head" of Mr Lewis over the Merrill deal, but Mr Lewis has denied that this was the case.

In September this year, it was announced that Mr Lewis, who had led the company since 2001, would retire from Bank of America at the end of the year. Last month, it was announced that he would receive no salary or bonus for 2009.

Bob Stickler from the bank said that a decision on Mr Lewis' successor was expected "in the near future".

Alan Villalon, senior research analyst at First American Funds, said the bank's decision to repay the government loans might be a signal that the bank is focused on attracting an external candidate.

"It removes some overhang so hopefully a CEO can come in with a clean slate," he said.
BBC News

DO YOU GET ANGRY EASILY? THEN CONSIDER THESE QUOTES

If you get angry easily, it will be wise to look into what some of our great motivators have to say about anger and forgiveness before making conclusion on what you wish to adhere to.
To be able to bear provocation is an argument of great reason, and to forgive is of a great mind-TILLOSON
There is no revenge so complete as forgiveness-JOSH BILLINGS
Only the brave know how to forgive; it is the most refined and generous pitch of virtue human nature can arrive at-STERNE
A wise man will make haste to forgive, because he knows the full value of time and will not let it pass away in unnecessary pain-RAMBLER
He that cannot forgive others breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass if he would ever reach heaven; for everyone has needed to be forgiven-LORD KELVIN
Little, vicious minds abound with anger and revenge and are incapable of feeling the pleasure of forgiving their enemies-EARL OF CHESTERFIELD
Anger is momentary madness, so control your passion or it will control you-HORACE EPISTLES
If you kick a stone in anger, you will hurt your own foot-KOREAN PROVERB
Resentment is like taking poison and waiting for the other person to die-MALACHY MCCOURT
People who fly into a rage always make bad landing-WILL ROGERS
Anger ventilated often hurries toward forgiveness; and concealed often hardens into revenge-EDWARD G. BULWERLY.

Eurozone economic activity 'hits a two-year high'

Eurozone economic activity rose at its fastest pace in November for two years, according to an influential survey.

The latest Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) figure rose to 53.7, up from 53 in the previous month, confirming the bloc's recent economic recovery.

The growth was driven by manufacturing output, which scored 54.6, its fastest growth since September 2007.

Figures released earlier this month showed that the eurozone emerged from recession between July and September.

'Fragile' growth

Any PMI score above 50 indicates an expansion in economic activity.

"The November survey suggests that the eurozone continued to expand at a robust pace, raising hopes that GDP growth in the final three months of the year could outpace the 0.4% rise seen the third quarter," said Chris Williamson at Markit Economics, which compiles the PMI.

But he added that the new orders index fell to its lowest level since February. This, together with rising unemployment, "highlighted the fragility of the recovery," he said.

Despite the two-year high, analysts were not getting carried away by the survey.

"The eurozone numbers are not going to set anything alight," said Peter Dixon at Commerzbank.

"It's an expansion that is consistent with [a recovery] which is slow and steady and [the eurozone economy] will probably continue to expand for some months to come, but I don't think we should be expecting a massive pick-up in activity from here."

BBC News

Iran war games to defend nuclear sites

Iran has begun five days of large-scale war games to simulate attacks on its nuclear sites, officials said, warning it will retaliate if provoked.

The head of Iran's air defence said the aim of the exercises was to thwart aerial reconnaissance and air attacks.

Another official warned Tehran would retaliate with a missile strike on Tel Aviv, if it was attacked by Israel.

Iran is under intense pressure over its nuclear programme, which critics say is intended to produce nuclear weapons.

The US and Israel have not ruled out the prospect of a military attack to prevent Iran developing nuclear bombs. Tehran insists its programme is peaceful.

Annihilation warning

The head of Iran's air defence, Brig Gen Ahmad Mighani, told state media the aim of the war games, which will cover an area of 600,000 sq km (230,000 sq miles), was "to display Iran's combat readiness and military potentials.

IRAN'S NUCLEAR SITES
Map showing Iranian nuclear sites
Iran insists that all its nuclear facilities are for energy, not military purposes
Bushehr: Nuclear power plant
Isfahan: Uranium conversion plant
Natanz: Uranium enrichment plant, 4,592 working centrifuges, with 3,716 more installed
Second enrichment plant: Existence revealed to IAEA in Sept 2009. Separate reports say it is near Qom, and not yet operational
Arak: Heavy water plant

Key nuclear sites in detail
A high-stakes game
Q&A: Iran and the nuclear issue

"Due to the threats against our nuclear facilities it is our duty to defend out nation's vital facilities," he said.

Meanwhile, Mojhtaba Zolnoor, an aide to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned Iran would respond to any Israeli attack.

"If the enemy attacks Iran, our missiles will strike Tel Aviv," he was quoted as saying by the official Irna news agency.

The commander of the elite Revolutionary Guards' air force wing said Iran's air defence forces would "annihilate" Israeli warplanes if they attacked.

"Their [Israeli] F-15 and F-16 fighters will be trapped by our air defence forces and will be annihilated," Amir Ali Hajizadeh told Iran's Fars news agency.

"Even if their planes escape and land at the bases from which they took off, their bases will be struck by our destructive surface-to-surface missiles."

Deal in doubt

The exercises come as the UN Security Council's permanent members - Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States - plus Germany, urge Tehran to reconsider its rejection of a proposal that would see some of its nuclear material being enriched outside Iran and returned as fuel rods.

The deal - brokered by the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency - envisages Iran sending about 70% of its low-enriched uranium to Russia and France, where it would be processed into fuel rods for a research reactor in Tehran.

Such a process would prevent Iran enriching uranium to the degree necessary to make a bomb, the UN says.

But Iran has rejected a key part of the deal, seeking further guarantees.

The UN Security Council has called on Iran to stop uranium enrichment and has approved three rounds of sanctions - covering trade in nuclear material, as well as financial and travel restrictions.

BBC News

How Do You Feel When You Are Being Criticized?

It is quite natural for individuals to feel embarrassed, hurt or discouraged when their thoughts, opinions, suggestions, performances, etc are being criticized by other individuals in the society, community or public forum. Criticism can help people to improve on what they have already done, but it can also be a source of discouragement to other people who easily get discouraged at the slightest encounter with difficulties or challenges of life.

Some Individuals expect encouragements from others after a performance, delivering speeches, displaying their skills, publishing their works, etc, but when criticisms are received instead, the feeling that creeps in is usually a bad one. On the other hand, some people want their works, performances, skills, etc to be criticized so that they can easily locate the areas that need to be improved on in whatever they do. Those people who want to be criticized also expect their critics to be constructive, which means that the criticisms should be useful and helpful to improving on what they have already done.

But the question is: how do you feel when you or your works are being criticized? Do you feel bad, discouraged, embarrassed or hurt? If this is so, what you have to know is that in whatever you do, there is always somebody by the side who will tell you that you are wrong. This is a fact, but how you react or respond to this will go a long way in determining the kind of person you wish to become, and to a large extent, it determines the kind of height you are able to attain in life. People must talk, you cannot stop them from doing so, but you can stop them from influencing your positive judgments. You have to learn how to lay strong foundation with the stones that people throw at you in order to come out stronger and better. You have to conquer the bad feeling that criticisms bring by giving it positive interpretations.

Have you stopped doing what you are supposed to be doing because people have told you that you are wrong? All you need to do is try to make amendments where they will be needed, and continue to give your best and do your best to ensure that you are on the right part.

Whenever you desire to do something that is important to you in every aspects of life, expect to encounter oppositions and criticisms on your way because everybody cannot feel the same way you do, but the way you handle these oppositions and criticisms surely helps you to improve on the skills you already have. Whenever you feel that your critics are not trying to be constructive, ignore them, and keep searching for the tools that will help to put your works or skills in the right shape.

Historians Should Explain this if They Can

Whenever I come across these incidents in American history, I have continued to wonder if they were just mere coincidence or maybe they were predestined to happen the way they followed in sequence. I am now calling on historians to try and give explanation for this, if they can.

Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846.
John .F. Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946.
Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860.
John .F. Kennedy was elected President in 1960.
Both were particularly concerned with Civil rights.
Both wives lost their children while living in the White House.
Both Presidents were shot on a Friday.
Both Presidents were shot in the head.
Now it will be getting really weird.
Lincoln’s Secretary was named Kennedy.
Kennedy’s Secretary was named Lincoln.
Both Presidents were assassinated by Southerners.
Both were succeeded by Southerners named Johnson.
Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Lincoln, was born in 1808.
Lyndon Johnson, who succeeded Kennedy, was born in 1908.
John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated Lincoln, was born in 1839.
Lee Harvey Oswald, who assassinated Kennedy, was born in 1939.
Both assassins were known by their three names.
Both names are composed of fifteen letters.
Lincoln was shot at the theater named “Ford”.
Kennedy was shot in a car named “Lincoln” made by “Ford”.
Lincoln was shot in a theater and his assassin ran and hid in a warehouse.
Kennedy was shot from a warehouse, and his assassin ran and hid in a theater.
Booth and Oswald were assassinated before their trials.
And here is the kicker……..
A week before Lincoln was shot, he was in Monroe Maryland.
A week before Kennedy was shot, he was with Marilyn Monroe
Weird, isn’t it. You can pass it on to as many people as you can, because this is one history lesson that people would not mind reading any day.

Youth and Unemployment in Africa: A Panacea

Unemployment has been a perennial problem in Nigeria and Africa at large. Every regime promises to address the issue of unemployment but in the end we see that the problem keeps on increasing. The rate of unemployment now is alarming and it is obvious that African governments are helpless in the face of this intimidating challenge. The youth in this case are the most affected. The majority of African youths are jobless. They parade around all the cities looking for jobs which are not there. This explains why the number of unemployed is most in the cities in Africa than in the rural areas. Frustrated by lack of job, some of these job seekers resort to crime in order to make ends meet. To them it is either they get a job or they become social misfits. But the fact is that there are no jobs for the teeming youths who are becoming restive by the day. Violence and crime are on the increase.
Most times we blame the government for unemployment. If government will initiate good policies that can boost economic development that will at least increase the rate of employment. Again it is evident that most African governments do not care about the welfare of the masses. In this case, what do the youth do? Should you sit and blame government while you perish in hunger? Even if governments start creating jobs, do you think that governments will employ all the job seekers in the continent? Definitely not. There is no way that can be possible. In the West it is not the Government that employs most workers but companies, corporations, organizations, banks, etc owned by private individuals. Therefore, government alone cannot solve the problem of unemployment. It is individuals that can solve their unemployment challenge and that of others. That is how it is in the West. Individuals establish companies. By that they solve their problem of joblessness. In addition they create job for others.
In Africa the problem of unemployment can only be solved when the youths discard their old and wrong ‘dependency mentality’ that once you are a graduate or school leaver, government will give you a job. It is a dependency mentality. When government does not create jobs, people with this mentality get frustrated and disappointed. No wonder violence is on the increase in Africa. So the first step towards overcoming unemployment is cultivating the right mentality of self employment. You did not go to higher institution to learn how to become a servant. Open your brain and see opportunities all around you.
Some are looking for job in banks, companies, firms, etc. Have you asked yourself: who founded those banks, companies and firms? Are they superior beings? If they are human beings like you, then why can you not found one? The rich dad in Robert Kiyosaki’s ‘Rich Dad, Poor Dad’ will always advise his son to put his brain to work. That is all you need. If those people who are not graduates can be making it on their own, what about you? Use you brain. Think of what you can do - a service you can render and people will be happy to part with their money in return. That is it. You have something you know how to do best. You have talents, potentials in you. Do not allow them to rust where you are looking and desiring to work in the ‘brain child’ of others. I may not wish to tell you the disappointments and frustrations that follow job seekers as well as employees. You may have known them already but let me tell you that there is fulfillment in self employment. There is freedom and there is prestige in being independent.
Right mentality leads to right attitude. The worst thing that can happen to a man is self rejection. Dependency mentality has elements of self rejection in it. It makes you not to believe in your abilities to create jobs. So you resign your happiness to whims and caprices of government, who as it appears, has rejected your service. That is too bad.
Obstacle to self employment is not lack of money as some have believed. It is lack of good ideals/goals and pride. Most unemployed youths have no plan of working for themselves. First of all, set goals for your life, meditate on them, and I tell you, where there is a will there is a way. Goal setting is the starting point of every achievement and not money. Another obstacle is pride. Many believe that because they are graduates they cannot start small. It is a lie. You have to start from somewhere. Before you become a graduate you passed through nursery/primary school. That is how the journey is. Bury your pride (what is your pride when you have no job and are without money). According to Napoleon Hill, author of Think and Grow Rich, the world has the habit of making room for the man whose actions show that he knows where he is going. It is not where you start from that matters but where you are going. Therefore develop good ideals/goals for your life and start from somewhere so that you can actualize your goals.
Your generation is looking up to you. So think and create a job for yourself and others or sit and wait until government gives you a job. The choice is yours!

The Power of Belief

Before I go on to discuss the topic I will like to let you know that you are a unique being with unique qualities. You are wonderfully made by God the creator, loaded with potentials to become what you want to be. You are full of abilities to achieve just what you want to achieve. In fact you have the power to effect any desired changes. And that is the power of belief. God packed every thing you need to live inside of you: your heart, lungs, kidney, brain, blood, etc are all inside of you. Likewise, the power for you to succeed is in you and not in anyone else. The only thing you have to do is to have belief in yourself, believe in your God-given abilities. This is sine-qua-non of success in life.

The power of belief is so great a force that it can either make or mar someone’s success depending on what type of belief he has about himself. It is a force that shapes our realities. This is to say that your belief determines what you can get in life; how far you can go in life and what you do with your life. Little wonder men say that you are what you believe.

At this point I will like to tell you that there is a positive and negative belief. It may also interest you to know that both have the same magnitude of power. While the former has the power to bring positive changes the latter saps an individual the power to make any progress towards the direction of success. A positive belief is a belief in the possibilities whereas a negative belief is a belief in the impossibilities. The former is a belief in one’s abilities while the latter is a belief in one’s disabilities. Positive belief is optimistic but negative belief is pessimistic. Sadly enough many people believe in impossibilities and They know all the rules that will not work, this is why they fail. It is not because God did not give them the abilities. It is because they do not believe in their God-given abilities.

According to our belief so shall it be to us. What do you believe about yourself? Have you realized that you have all it takes to be great? Do you know that God has put in you the power to be successful? Have you known that God’s deposits in you can only be activated through positive belief? Of course, God put all you need in you so that you can excel but you need to believe in those talents He deposited in you. Believe in the abilities God put in you; believe that you are made unique to contribute uniquely to your generation. Otherwise your belief will be negative and can only attract negative things to you.

Who has ever doubted what God made and still succeeded? You are that which God made. Therefore believe in yourself.

China joins supercomputer elite

China has become one of a handful of nations to own one of the top five supercomputers in the world.

Its Tianhe-1 computer, housed at the National Super Computer Center in Tianjin was ranked fifth on the biannual Top 500 supercomputer list.

The machine packs more than 70,000 chips and can compute 563 trillion calculations per second (teraflops).

It is used for petroleum exploration and engineering tasks such as simulating aircraft designs.

However, the fastest machine is the US-owned Jaguar supercomputer, which now boasts a speed of 1.759 petaflops.

One petaflop is the equivalent of 1,000 trillion calculations per second.

The Cray computer has more than 220,000 chips and is owned by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee. It is used to conduct research in climate science, materials science and nuclear energy amongst other areas.

TOP FIVE SUPERCOMPUTERS
Jaguar, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, US. (1.759 petaflops; 224,162 processors)
Roadrunner, Los Alamos National Laboratory, US (1.042 petaflops; 122,400 processors)
Kraken XT5, University of Tennessee, US(831.7 teraflops; 98,928 processors)
Jugene, Forschungszentrum Juelich, Germany (835.5 teraflops; 294,912 processors)
Tianhe-1, National SuperComputer Center, China (563.1 teraflops; 71,680 processors)
Source: Top 500 Supercomputers

It has taken the top slot from another US machine, nicknamed Roadrunner.

The IBM computer is owned by the Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico and was the first machine to push through the petaflop barrier.

It is currently able to run at 1.042 petaflops and uses the powerful "cell" chip designed for the PlayStation 3.

It is used to monitor the US nuclear stockpile, as well as conduct research into astronomy, genomics and climate change.

The Top 500 list is dominated by machines in the US, which is home to 277 of ranked systems. It has eight of the top 10 machines.

Europe has 153 systems on the list, including the world's fourth most powerful machine. The IBM BlueGene/P supercomputer at the Forschungszentrum Juelich (FZJ) in Germany is the fastest machine outside the US and is able to run at more than 800 teraflops.

The UK has the largest number of European machines on the list, with 44 systems.

BBC News

US demands Afghan 'bribery court'

The Afghan president must set up a "major crimes tribunal" and an anti-corruption commission, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says.

She told ABC television that Hamid Karzai "can do better".

The Afghan leader - recently re-elected in a poll marred by fraud allegations - has come under growing Western pressure to deal with corruption.

One of Mr Karzai's spokesmen insisted the Afghan leader's administration was "serious" about tackling corruption.

The American ambassador in Kabul has warned against a US troop surge unless Mr Karzai takes action against corruption.


Now we believe that President Karzai and his government can do better
Hillary Clinton
US Secretary of State

His views are at odds with US generals recommending a major troop deployment.

Afghanistan's chief prosecutor has said he has a list of senior officials and ministers suspected of taking bribes, but refused to publish their names.

Chief prosecutor Ishaq Aluko told the BBC last week that he had asked the president and Supreme Court to set up a special court to deal with the cases.

The presidential election in August was tainted with accusations of fraud and vote-rigging. Mr Karzai's main rival pulled out of a run-off vote.

No aid

Mrs Clinton, in an interview on ABC, said Washington expects "a major crimes tribunal" to be set up and "an anti-corruption commission established and functioning".

She said the Afghan government needed to take action against people who have "taken advantage of the money that has poured into Afghanistan" in the past eight years.

She said she had made it clear that civilian aid would not be given unless the US could track it if it went to government ministries.

Mrs Clinton said the goal of the US was to defeat al-Qaeda, and help Afghans defend themselves against the Taliban.

"Now we believe that President Karzai and his government can do better," she said.

People's needs

"We've delivered that message. Now that the election is finally over, we're looking to see tangible evidence that the government, led by the president but going all the way down to the local level, will be more responsive to the needs of the people."

Corruption in Afghanistan - which is the world's largest producer of opium - is linked mainly to illegal drugs, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

It has also said the unprecedentedly large amount of international assistance, and pressure to spend resources quickly, also contribute to corruption.

Afghanistan is regularly listed as among the worst five countries - out of 180 - for corruption by watchdog groups.
BBC News

No public probe into Iraq 'abuse'

Fresh allegations of abuse by the UK military in Iraq do not warrant a new public inquiry, the Armed Forces Minister Bill Rammell has said.

He told the BBC the claims were taken seriously and would be investigated but that allegations did not mean facts.

He said a special unit within the Ministry of Defence, overseen by him, had been set up to examine the claims.

Lawyers for former Iraqi detainees want an inquiry into 33 abuse claims, which include the rape of a 16-year-old boy.

'Sexually humiliated'

Mr Rammell said there should not be a wider public inquiry because each case first had to be examined and disciplinary action taken if there was evidence of wrongdoing.

He said: "There is no credible evidence that endemic abuse was a coherent part of the way our military operated."

The "vast, vast majority" of the 120,000 British soldiers who had served in Iraq had adhered to "the highest standards of behaviour," he added.

Phil Shiner, Iraqis' lawyer: Abuse in army is 'systematic'

Earlier, Mr Rammell told the BBC seven of the allegations had come in within the last month, and the rest date back "significantly beyond that period".

A public inquiry is already under way into the death of Iraqi civilian Baha Mousa, who died in British custody with 93 separate injuries.

A report by the Independent newspaper said 33 cases of alleged abuse had now come to light.

One claimant alleges he was raped by two British soldiers in 2003, while others say they were stripped naked, abused and photographed, the Independent said.

Another detainee said that when he was arrested he was kicked and hit, and an electric baton was used on parts of his body.

'Random detentions'

A fellow Iraqi, detained in 2006, claimed he was sexually humiliated.

The lawyers said that since the British withdrawal from Basra in the summer, they had heard a host of allegations of abuse dating back to 2003.

Mr Rammell added: "While there have been instances when individuals have behaved badly, only a tiny number of individuals have been shown to have fallen short of our high standards."

A legal letter was given to the MoD last week by the Iraqis' lawyer, Phil Shiner.

Mr Shiner is asking for a judicial review of the cases.

I met this boy and it was extremely difficult taking his statement because he broke into tears many times and I had to comfort him
Mazin Younis

He said: "I have it on good authority that there are hundreds of cases that are going uninvestigated.

"But if you are an Iraqi and terrible things have happened to you then how would you know that we have a judicial system in this country to deal with it?

"My guess is that many of them will remain buried."

Mazin Younis, the Iraqi human rights campaigner who has been compiling the allegations, said many alleged victims waited years before coming forward because they were afraid of what would happen if they complained.

"They all feared that the British would come back and punish them. Now the British are out," he told the BBC.

He said many people were detained at random and abused.

"The norm, kind of is for a large number of troops - 50 to 100 - to raid a house, take all the men with them.

"When I say take them they will be beating, kicking them and hooding them."

Mr Younis said some of the alleged cases were similar to cases of sexual humiliation seen at the US detention centre Abu Ghraib and that only a full public inquiry would establish what had really happened.

He described meeting the 16-year-old boy who said he had been raped by two soldiers.

"I met this boy and it was extremely difficult taking his statement because he broke into tears many times and I had to comfort him," he said.

BBC News

9/11 suspects face New York trial

he alleged 9/11 mastermind will be transferred from Guantanamo to New York for a trial in which the death penalty will be sought, the US has confirmed.

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four others would be tried in a civilian court near Ground Zero, the attorney general said.

Five other Guantanamo detainees would face military trials, Eric Holder said.

The move is part of US President Barack Obama's efforts to close Guantanamo, but some relatives of 9/11 victims say they oppose a federal court trial.

"Today I am announcing that the Department of Justice will pursue prosecution in federal court of the five individuals accused of conspiring to commit the 9/11 attacks," Mr Holder told a news conference.


I am absolutely convinced that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed will be subjected to the most exacting demands of

justice

Barack Obama

In quotes: US reaction
A triumph of justice?
New York voices

"I fully expect to direct prosecutors to seek the death penalty against each of the alleged 9/11 conspirators."

Four men - the two Yemenis, a Saudi and a Pakistani-born Kuwaiti - will face trial alongside Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, accused of helping finance and plan the attacks of 11 September 2001 in which nearly 3,000 people were killed.

Responsibility for the case will go to the Southern District of New York, with proceedings taking place at a court not far from where the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center fell.

No date was given for a trial, but US media reports say Congress needs at least 45 days' notice before the detainees can be transferred to the US.

'Unnecessary risk'

The five men had until now been facing prosecution at US military commissions in Guantanamo. The government had faced a 16 November deadline to decide how to proceed in their cases.


Paul Reynolds
Paul Reynolds, BBC World Affairs correspondent
The decision to prosecute in a federal court is a major step towards President Obama's target of closing Guantanamo by 22 January. However, problems remain.

About 70 prisoners are in limbo. There is not enough useable evidence for a military or a civilian trial yet no other country will so far take them and release is seen as too dangerous.

Guantanamo Bay, as the attorney general indicated, is therefore unlikely to close by the deadline.

The announcement also confirmed military commissions will go ahead in some cases, so the move to civilian trials is not a general one.

It remains to be seen whether the trial will accept any alleged confession by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed as it might have been based on water-boarding, or whether, in a courtroom close to Ground Zero, he will seek to glory in the attacks.

Mr Holder said he was confident that the defendants would get a fair trial that was "open to the public and open to the world".

Of the five detainees referred for military commission trials, one is Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, accused in connection with the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole in Yemen.

Speaking in Tokyo ahead of Mr Holder's announcement, Mr Obama said Khalid Sheikh Mohammed would face "most exacting demands of justice". Mr Mohammed has been described by US investigators as "one of history's most infamous terrorists". They say he has admitted being responsible "from A to Z" for the 9/11 attacks.

Believed to be the number three al-Qaeda leader, he was captured in Pakistan in March 2003. He told a pre-trial hearing at Guantanamo in December 2008 that he wanted to plead guilty to all charges against him.

But intelligence memos released earlier this year revealed he had been subjected to harsh interrogation techniques including water-boarding on multiple occasions since his capture - potentially rendering some evidence inadmissible.

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed pictured upon capture in Pakistan in March 2003 (left) and more recently at Guantanamo Bay (right)
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was captured in March 2003

The decision to hold the trial in New York faces opposition from some lawmakers and relatives of those who died.

Congressmen Howard McKeon, the senior Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, said the decision would introduce "unnecessary risk to the citizens of New York".

But Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy, who chairs the Judiciary Committee, said the decision demonstrates "to the world that the most powerful nation on earth also trusts its judicial system".

The move is part of a White House bid to close Guantanamo by 22 January 2010.

Mr Obama's administration says it will try some detainees in US courts and repatriate or resettle others who are not perceived as a threat.

However, questions remain over the fate of those assessed as dangerous but who for legal reasons could not be prosecuted in a US court - prompting suggestions that the deadline will slip.

BBC News

Greek Church acts on crucifix ban

The Greek Orthodox Church is urging Christians across Europe to unite in an appeal against a ban on crucifixes in classrooms in Italy.

The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg ruled last week that the presence of crucifixes violated a child's right to freedom of religion.

Greece's Orthodox Church fears the Italian case will set a precedent.

It has called an emergency Holy Synod meeting for next week to devise an action plan.

Although the Greek Orthodox Church has been at odds with Roman Catholicism for 1,000 years, the judicial threat to Christian symbols has acted as a unifying force.

The European Court of Human Rights found that the compulsory display of crucifixes violated parents' rights to educate their children as they saw fit and restricted the right of children to believe or not to believe.

'Worthy symbols'

The head of the Greek Church, Archbishop Ieronymos, shares Catholic complaints that the court is ignoring the role of Christianity in forming Europe's identity.

It is not only minorities that have rights but majorities as well, said the archbishop.

One of his subordinates, Bishop Nicholas from central Greece, lamented that at this rate youngsters will not have any worthy symbols at all to inspire and protect them.

Crucifixin San Remo town hall 6.11.09
The mayor of one Italian town displayed a 2m high crucifix in protest

Football and pop idols are very poor substitutes, he said.

The Greek Church has ostensibly intervened in this case in response to an appeal by a Greek mother whose son is studying in Italy.

But without doubt it is concerned that its omnipotence in Greece is under threat.

A human rights group called Helsinki Monitor is seeking to use the Italian case as a precedent.

It has demanded that Greek courts remove icons of Jesus Christ from above the judge's bench and that the gospel no longer be used for swearing oaths in the witness box.

Helsinki Monitor is urging trade unions to challenge the presence of religious symbols in Greek schools.

The socialist government here is also considering imposing new taxes on the Church's vast fortune, but at the same time is urging it to do more to help immigrants and poor Greeks.

BBC News

Dell to acquire Perot for $3.9bn

Computer giant Dell is buying IT services provider and fellow Texan firm Perot Systems for $3.9bn (£2.4bn).

Dell said the takeover, which it hopes to conclude between November and January, will help it provide a wider range of services to its customers.

The all-cash deal will see Perot shareholders receive $30 per share, a 68% premium on the company's closing share price on Friday.

Perot is controlled by billionaire Ross Perot who twice ran for US president.

He ran as an independent candidate in both 1992 and 1996.

'Premium asset'

"We consider Perot Systems to be a premium asset with great people that enhances our opportunities for immediate and long-term growth," said Dell's chairman and chief executive.


The acquisition makes such great sense because of the obvious ways our businesses complement each other
Michael Dell

"This significantly expands Dell's enterprise-solutions capabilities and makes Perot Systems' strengths available to even more customers around the world," Michael Dell added.

While Perot specialises in IT support for the likes of hospitals, government departments, and banks, Dell is best known for its personal computers.

Mr Perot said the sale was a "great opportunity" for his company, which he founded in 1988.

Mr Dell said the "the acquisition makes such great sense because of the obvious ways our businesses complement each other".

The takeover news comes a month after Dell reported that its second quarter revenues fell 22% from a year earlier to $12.8bn, as it continued to be hit by the global slowdown in sales of personal computers.

BBC News

Aggrieved PDP members can quit – Ogbulafor

ABUJA — NATIONAL Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor has told those not satisfied with the choice of Professor Chukwuma Soludo as the party’s candidate for next year’s gubernatorial election in Anambra State to either toe the party line or quit.

However, former state chairmen of the party in the state have called for Ogbulafor’s resignation, saying he is the problem of the party.

Speaking while inaugurating the Dr. Osita Ogbu-led Anambra Caretaker Committee in Abuja, Ogbulafor who noted that the members of the party must abide by its constitution said, “PDP has a constitution that guides us and we stick to our constitution and we don’t see why people should be taking the party to court.”
NATIONAL Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor , OFR

NATIONAL Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor , OFR

Ogbulafor said, “we stand firm on the decision of the party, the decision of the party is supreme. So no matter whatever happens, we are not going to rescind our decision but rather to build on it to make sure that Chukwuma Soludo is given all the necessary backing by the party to win the election come 2010.”

According to Ogbulafor, “Time has come when we must set aside all misunderstandings and complaints. All governorship aspirants from Anambra state must put their hands on deck. Every party or association and town unions have constitutions that guide them. If you come into an association, you better abide by the constitution of that association or town union. When you don’t like it, you quietly walk out.

“The party you belong to and you take us to court, it is an unbecoming behaviour. So we feel that you should in fact, have a rethink in your behaviour knowing very well that you have great men of heroes past and great men of heroes present from Anambra.

“We should have every reason to stand tall and be counted. I want to very sincerely plead with all Anambrarians to please give peace a chance. I want to seriously plead with all of you to go and plead with all those who are not here, all aspirants who lost should lose gallantly and to know that the party has made a choice. No going back.

“It is only in Anambra that we involved distinguished men, governors, senators, ambassadors, minister to be involved in primaries congress. In the history of this party, it has never been done. So you can see that the party has done everything humanly possible to make sure that there is fairness, equity, transparency. We invited you to Yar’Adua Centre and you saw it on TV.

It was a disgrace we had there. Eventually, it is only one person that will emerge, and it is God that crowns. If it is not your time it is not your time, no matter what you do. But if it is your time, with little push you are there.
Anambra PDP candidate, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo (middle) flanked by his running mate, Senator Emmanuel Anosike (left) and Hon. Chuma Nzeribe (right) at a press conference in Abuja. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Anambra PDP candidate, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo (middle) flanked by his running mate, Senator Emmanuel Anosike (left) and Hon. Chuma Nzeribe (right) at a press conference in Abuja. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

The 18-member Caretaker Committee, has the former Economic Adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo, Dr. Osita Ogbu as the Chairman. He was however absent at the inauguration as he was said to be out of the country.

Other members are Vincent Achigwe, Chief Chisata Okoye, Emmanuel Nsoedo; Chief Alphonsus Oguonu; K.G. Enemuoh; Mrs. Oby Okeke-Okwubanego; Chief Solomon O. D. Onyekwelu; Chief Dennis Ngene and Chief Odumegwu Sunny.

Others are Mbamalu Emmanuel; Chief Joe Oforkansi; Dr. Ugochukwu Okafor; Okwudili Uzoka; Ike Onyeabor; Handel Okoli and Dr. Harry Oranezi while Anthony Muobike is the Secretary.
Ogbulafor should resign, says Ex-chairmen

Addressing newsmen in Abuja yesterday, former Chairman of the Anambra State chapter of the party, Chief Dan Ulasi, warned that they were prepared to drag Ogbulafor before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC.

“If I were in his shoes I will resign. Things have happened in the past two, three weeks in the party, within the party and the presidency that have brought him to where he is. He knows the feeling of government and top hierarchy of the party about him”, he said.

He also accused the National Chairman of constituting the Caretaker Committee for the state without the consent of other members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

Supported by another former Chairman of the party in the State, Ifeatu Obi Okoye, he noted that “there has been a deliberate effort to make sure that nothing works in Anambra state.

“There were three main blocks running for governorship in Anambra state. Forget about the number of aspirants who collected nomination forms. There was the group of Chief Chris Uba that was effectively on the ground. There was the group led by Ukachukwu effectively on the ground and the group led by Senator Annie Okonkwo effectively on the ground. Apart from these three groups any other person you hear of was just exercise in futility.”
Vanguardngr

Worthy Goals And Ideals

A major ingredient of success is worthy goals and ideals. Perhaps your deepest subconscious drive, according to Dr. Viktor E. Frankl, author of Man’s Search for Meaning, is the need for meaning and purpose in life. To be truly happy, you need a clear sense of direction. You need a commitment to something bigger and more important than yourself. You need to feel that your life stands for something, that you are somehow making a valuable contribution to your world.
Happiness has been defined as “the progressive realization of a worthy ideal.” you can only be happy when you are working step by step towards something that is really important to you.
Think about what sort of activities and accomplishments you most enjoy. What were you doing in the past when you were the happiest? What sort of activities gives you your greatest sense of meaning and purpose in life? You must know that any goal that does not give you happiness and satisfaction is not a worthy goal. It is the sense of fulfillment that follows accomplishment of any goal that makes that goal a worthy one. Therefore if there is any ideal you set whose attainment does not make you feel great, that ideal cannot be a worthy ideal for you.
Think about the goals you may have set before now. Do they give you direction? Assuming you have realized all of them how great and fulfilled would you be? These shall be your guiding questions as you formulate your goals and ideals.
In goal setting you must know that your ideals are different from mine. You are the king of your goals. Your goals must be relevant to your purpose in life. They must aim at your fulfillment without which those goals are useless. Think therefore about your purpose in life so that you can rightly set worthy goals and ideals. Worthy goals and ideals are channels through which your purpose can be accomplished in life. A writer once said that a man without purpose cannot set worthy goals and that his life will be directionless and unexciting.
Do you know that you can give your life meaning? Do you know that you can excite your life? Do you believe that you can achieve great things in life? Yes you can. You can do all these but you have to start by setting goals and ideals relevant to your dreams.
When can you start? Now is the best time to start setting your goals.
Good luck as you journey to success!

Deadly shootings at US army base

A US Army major has opened fire on fellow soldiers at the Fort Hood military base in Texas, killing 13 people and injuring 30, officials say.

Base commander Lt Gen Bob Cone said that the gunman had not been killed, as earlier stated, but was in custody.

It is not clear what motivated the attacker, named as 39-year-old military psychiatrist Major Nidal Malik Hasan.

But some reports said the US-born Muslim was unhappy about being sent to Iraq or Afghanistan.

Lt Gen Cone said one of the dead was a policeman and others were soldiers.

MAJOR NIDAL MALIK HASAN
US Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan
US-born Muslim raised in Virginia
Joined the army and trained to be a psychiatrist
Treated soldiers returning from combat zones
Described as a devout Muslim who attended prayers regularly
Said to have been unhappy about imminent overseas deployment

Profile: Major Nidal Malik Hasan

President Barack Obama described it as "a horrific outburst of violence".

Speaking at a press conference in Washington, he said: "It is difficult enough when we lose these brave men and women abroad, but it is horrifying that they should come under fire at an army base on US soil."

He extended his condolences to the families of the victims, adding: "We will make sure that we get answers to every single question about this horrible incident."

Eleven victims were initially reported dead, but two of the injured later died, bringing the death toll to 13.

'Racial harassment'

The gunman is now said to be wounded after being shot four times, but is in a stable condition in custody.

"His death is not imminent," said Lt Gen Cone.

Barack Obama: 'A horrific outburst of violence'

An official said authorities initially thought one of the victims was the shooter, causing a delay in identifying Maj Hasan as the suspect, AP reported.

Maj Hasan is a military psychiatrist and was reportedly due to be sent on a mission to Iraq or Afghanistan.

His cousin said Maj Hasan had been resisting such a deployment.

"He hired a military attorney to try to have the issue resolved, pay back the government, to get out of the military. He was at the end of trying everything," Nader Hasan told Fox News.

He also said that Nidal Malik Hasan had been battling racial harassment because of his "Middle Eastern ethnicity".

Prior to Fort Hood, Maj Hasan served as a psychiatrist at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, which treats wounded troops from combat zones.
SHOOTINGS AT FORT HOOD US MILITARY BASE
Location of shootings
Shooting starts 1330 local time (1930 GMT) at Soldier Readiness Processing Center near Howze Theater where graduation ceremony is due to take place
Thirteen people are killed and 30 injured
Soldiers close off Howze Theater to protect about 600 people inside
Gunman Major Nidal Malik Hasan is shot and detained
Built in 1942, Fort Hood is the largest US base in the world, home to about 40,000 personnel and includes two museums and a lake. It has been a focus for anti-war protesters

Reaction: US base shootings
In pictures: Fort Hood shootings

Witness' account

The shooting had begun at about 1330 (1930 GMT) on Thursday at a personnel and medical centre at Fort Hood, where soldiers who are preparing to deploy go for last-minute medical check-ups, Lt Gen Cone said.

He said the gunman had two weapons, one semi-automatic, which "might explain the rate of fire".

Asked whether the shootings were a terrorist act, Lt Gen Cone said: "I couldn't rule that out but I'm telling you that right now, the evidence does not suggest that."

Two more suspects were apprehended in an adjacent facility, he said, but eyewitness accounts suggesting there might have been more than one gunman were later discounted.

A serviceman stationed at Fort Hood, who asked to remain anonymous, told the BBC: "I heard the emergency announcement over the speakers outside and saw people rushing to get indoors."

Local congressman John Carter, speaking to NBC News, said gunfire had erupted half an hour before a graduation ceremony was due to begin.

'Like a city'

Fort Hood, near the town of Killeen, is the largest US base in the world.

Home to about 40,000 US troops, the base lies between Austin and Waco, about 60 miles (100 km) from each city.

Soldiers at Fort Hood are among those deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, and some will have returned from there.

The base has a centre that deals with combat stress.

Hilary Shine, of the Killeen Fire Department told the BBC's News Channel Fort Hood was like a small city.

"It has schools, a hospital, a convenience store even. And it has a large daytime population - including civilians working on the base - with as many as 80,000 in this area during the daytime."

BBC News

Twelve shot dead at US army base

Fort Hood
The shooter was killed by police, the base's commander said

Twelve people have been killed and 31 injured in a shooting at the Fort Hood military base in Texas, the commander there has said.

Lt Gen Bob Cone said one shooter had been killed in the incident and two suspects arrested. All were American soldiers. The base is locked down.

The motivation for the shooting is not known, he said. One of the dead was a policeman but the others were soldiers.

President Barack Obama described it as "a horrific outburst of violence".

Speaking at a press conference in Washington, he said: "It is difficult enough when we lose these brave men and women abroad, but it is horrifying that they should come under fire at an army base on US soil."


FORT HOOD
Largest US base in the world
Home to about 40,000 personnel
Built in 1942
Focus for anti-war protesters
Includes two museums and a lake

He extended his condolences to the families of the victims, adding: "We will make sure that we get answers to every single question about this horrible incident."

Mr Obama said the White House was working with the Pentagon, FBI and Department of Homeland Security to make sure Fort Hood was secure.

Fort Hood, near the town of Killeen, is the largest US base in the world.

Home to about 40,000 US troops, the base lies between Austin and Waco, about 60 miles (97 km) from each city.

Army spokesman Lt Col Nathan Banks at the Pentagon earlier told the Associated Press news agency the shootings had begun at about 1330 (1930 GMT) on Thursday at a personnel and medical processing centre at Fort Hood.

A serviceman stationed at Fort Hood who asked to remain anonymous told the BBC: "I heard the emergency announcement over the speakers outside and saw people rushing to get indoors.

"In our office we're okay but we're hearing about the deaths. It's horrible and very shocking.

"We are still on lockdown. I am hearing that at least nine people may be dead. This is so terrible and frightening."

The BBC's Adam Brookes in Washington says units at Fort Hood are among those deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, and some will have returned from there.

The base has a centre that deals with combat stress, our correspondent adds.

Map showing Texas

Hilary Shine, of the Killeen Fire Department told the BBC's News Channel Fort Hood was like a small city.

"It has schools, a hospital, a convenience store even. And it has a large daytime population - including civilians working on the base - with as many as 80,000 in this area during the daytime."

Local congressman John Carter, speaking to NBC News, said gunfire had erupted half an hour before a graduation ceremony was due to begin.

Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson said in a statement: "I am shocked and saddened by today's outburst of violence at Fort Hood that has cost seven of our brave service members their lives and has gravely injured others.

"My heart goes out to their loved ones."
BBC News

Twelve shot dead at US army base

Fort Hood
The shooter was killed by police, the base's commander said

Twelve people have been killed and 31 injured in a shooting at the Fort Hood military base in Texas, the commander there has said.

Lt Gen Bob Cone said one shooter had been killed in the incident and two suspects arrested. All were American soldiers. The base is locked down.

The motivation for the shooting is not known, he said. One of the dead was a policeman but the others were soldiers.

President Barack Obama described it as "a horrific outburst of violence".

Speaking at a press conference in Washington, he said: "It is difficult enough when we lose these brave men and women abroad, but it is horrifying that they should come under fire at an army base on US soil."


FORT HOOD
Largest US base in the world
Home to about 40,000 personnel
Built in 1942
Focus for anti-war protesters
Includes two museums and a lake

He extended his condolences to the families of the victims, adding: "We will make sure that we get answers to every single question about this horrible incident."

Mr Obama said the White House was working with the Pentagon, FBI and Department of Homeland Security to make sure Fort Hood was secure.

Fort Hood, near the town of Killeen, is the largest US base in the world.

Home to about 40,000 US troops, the base lies between Austin and Waco, about 60 miles (97 km) from each city.

Army spokesman Lt Col Nathan Banks at the Pentagon earlier told the Associated Press news agency the shootings had begun at about 1330 (1930 GMT) on Thursday at a personnel and medical processing centre at Fort Hood.

A serviceman stationed at Fort Hood who asked to remain anonymous told the BBC: "I heard the emergency announcement over the speakers outside and saw people rushing to get indoors.

"In our office we're okay but we're hearing about the deaths. It's horrible and very shocking.

"We are still on lockdown. I am hearing that at least nine people may be dead. This is so terrible and frightening."

The BBC's Adam Brookes in Washington says units at Fort Hood are among those deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, and some will have returned from there.

The base has a centre that deals with combat stress, our correspondent adds.

Map showing Texas

Hilary Shine, of the Killeen Fire Department told the BBC's News Channel Fort Hood was like a small city.

"It has schools, a hospital, a convenience store even. And it has a large daytime population - including civilians working on the base - with as many as 80,000 in this area during the daytime."

Local congressman John Carter, speaking to NBC News, said gunfire had erupted half an hour before a graduation ceremony was due to begin.

Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson said in a statement: "I am shocked and saddened by today's outburst of violence at Fort Hood that has cost seven of our brave service members their lives and has gravely injured others.

"My heart goes out to their loved ones."
BBC News

MALOUDA: DROGBA ON FIRE

Florent Malouda believes the form of Didier Drogba can be the difference between ourselves and Manchester United on Sunday.

We enter the Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge two points clear of our title rivals, with Drogba on top of his game, his brace against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday taking his season's tally to 12.

Malouda, who was also team-mates with the Ivorian at Guingamp in France, is not surprised at Drogba's purple patch.

'He has not changed, the fact he had a good pre-season without injuries can explain it, he is really happy and enjoying his form at the moment,' said the 29-year-old. 'He is training harder than ever and had some rest because of the ban, but is now back in the competition and scoring goals.

'He always believed in himself, even in the second division in France he was dreaming about it and preparing himself. Even at this level he is working harder and harder,' Malouda continued.

'I knew him from Guingamp and he has always been a leader, always speaking in the dressing room and bringing the team behind him. With JT and Lamps he is one of our world-class players and when he is like this every team has to fear him.'

Now Drogba will be looking for his first goal against United since netting the winner in the 2007 FA Cup Final, and Malouda is hoping that would be enough to secure a vital victory.

'We have no choice, we have to win because we are two points in front and we want to stay in front. It's going to be a big, big, big game and we have to play at our best level in front of our fans,' he insisted.

'We have a home record and we're trying to keep it. Before the international break it would be a good result to win at home. To be five points clear would be a good thing for us, we have never been five in front for a long time.'

There are of course plenty of games left in the title race, in which ground will invariably be gained and lost. Malouda admitted he has not yet begun looking up United's results.

'I think about our team and I'm not looking too much at the results of Man U,' he said. 'At the moment we are on top and if we keep on going like this and playing like we are we won't be far, but nobody can say who is going to win this title.'
Chelseafc.com