Nigerian Times

29 Nov 2007 21:15 Africa/Lagos Malaria Community Applauds Clinton's $1 Billion a Year Pledge; Invites Other Candidates to Make Malaria Commitments ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, Nov. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton today pledged to expand the U.S. government commitment to malaria to US$1 billion a year if elected, setting the goal of ending malaria-related deaths in Africa by the end of her second term. The campaign said this funding would be in addition to U.S. government support of malaria control through the World Bank and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, which finances the majority of malaria control efforts around the world. Health ministers, heads of agencies, and other leaders in the global fight against malaria gathered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia this week for the 13th Roll Back Malaria Board Meeting reacted to the news. "The Roll Back Malaria Partnership applauds Hillary Clinton's bold commitment to f...

The reins of the leadership of Nigeria is in the wrong hands and until the Nigerian electorate recover their stolen mandate, they will continue to be at the mercy of the crooks and rogues in power. Seven months after the election of President Umaru Yar'Adua, he is still playing party politics with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and using political tactics to stymie the prosecution of the corrupt ex-governors and other public office holders who are still bona fide sponsors of the notorious People's Democratic Party (PDP) of Nigeria. President Umaru Yar'Adua is already looking forward to ruling for eight years. But I pray for the divine intervention of God to sack the most corrupt government in Africa.

Video highlights: XO versus Classmate The BBC News website visited Nigeria to see Africa's first large scale test of the XO laptop - a portable computer designed for the world's poorest children. The One Laptop Per Child Project's so-called $100 laptop, also known as the XO, incorporates technology and software specially developed to cope with the inhospitable conditions found in many developing nations.

29 Nov 2007 16:50 Africa/Lagos Measles Deaths in Africa Plunge by 91% Africa Leads Strong Decline in Global Measles Deaths Joint News Release: American Red Cross/UN Foundation/CDC/WHO/UNICEF/62 ATLANTA, GENEVA, NEW YORK and WASHINGTON, Nov. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Measles deaths in Africa fell by 91 percent between 2000 and 2006, from an estimated 396,000 to 36,000, reaching the United Nations 2010 goal to cut measles deaths by 90 percent four years early. The spectacular gains achieved in Africa helped generate a strong decline in global measles deaths, which fell 68 percent worldwide -- from an estimated 757,000 to 242,000 -- during this period. The progress was announced today by the founding partners of the Measles Initiative: the American Red Cross, UNICEF, the United Nations Foundation, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The data will be published in the November 30th editions of WHO's Weekl...

28 Nov 2007 19:41 Africa/Lagos LA Press Club Announces National Entertainment Journalism Awards HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Nov. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- The Los Angeles Press Club has announced the "National Entertainment Journalism Awards." Entertainment reporters, editors and critics across the country are invited to enter a new journalism contest that honors those who write, speak or blog about one of the nation's most important industries. The first-ever "National Entertainment Journalism Awards" contest rewards work by print, broadcast and Internet newspeople for their efforts in 2007. Deadline for entries is Friday, January 25, 2008. The contest is sponsored by the Los Angeles Press Club, which for 50 years has produced one of the nation's most successful regional journalism competitions, the Southern California Journalism Awards. The thriving non-profit club fosters programs aimed at raising the calibre of journalism while also helping students learn the pr...

When I read the report on "Oprah Winfrey, Bill Clinton Bring Star Power to Iowa" , I was really amused by Oprah Winfrey's self-esteem of her popularity and her political naivety. Oprah Winfrey is overrating her charisma. The leadership of America is more than a TV Talk Show and Campaign 2008 is not a Black versus White battle of wits. From most of the comments online, Oprah Winfrey is not a big plus to Barack Obama. In fact, Obama would likely lose more voters who are not fans of Oprah Winfrey. Lest we forget, Oprah Winfrey once misled millions of Americans into buying a fake book! Americans now are wiser.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran knows that President George W.Bush of the US is only begging the question of the Middle East Crisis in his desperate Middle East public relations conference, Tuesday, in Annapolis, Maryland. The so called Middle East Peace Conference between Israel and Palestine is a waste of time, because without Hamas(Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya)and Iran at the peace conference, there would be no accord. The actualization of peace in the Middle East cannot be realized without these principalities and powers. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas should not be deceived and misled by America and Israel to believe that he is the bona fide leader of the people of Palestine and he is not another Yasser Arafat. Fatah (حركة التحرير الوطني الفلسطيني, Harakat al-Tahrir al-Watani al-Filastini) has lost the control and support of the majority of Palestinians and playing to the gallery of America and Israel is not the saving grace for President Mahmoud Abbas. US Presiden...

Kano LG Polls - the Inside Story Daily Trust (Abuja) ANALYSIS 25 November 2007 Posted to the web 25 November 2007 By Hassan A. Karofi Kano Last weekend's local government polls in Kano State left traces of violence, destruction and heavy presence of troops, reminding residents of the anarchy that reigned in parts of the state for days during and after the elections. The election was never envisaged to be peaceful. Reason: pre-election campaign tones of the rival political parties dimmed any ray of hope of peaceful polls in the volatile city and across the state. A day to the Saturday, November 17 elections, strange movements of men and materials were noticed, while political party offices soon became munitions depots. The party offices were taken over by weapons-wielding youths, who were publicly smoking marijuana, blowing flutes of hunters-reminiscent of the war period. These election-eve events instilled fear in the minds of residents of the looming danger ahead of the polls. An...

25 Nov 2007 18:17 Africa/Lagos NEWSWEEK: Cover: Rudy's Roots How Growing Up in a Family of Cops and Hoods Shaped Giuliani's Moral Universe NEW YORK, Nov. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- In the December 3 Newsweek cover "Rudy's Roots" (on newsstands Monday, November 26), a team of correspondents look at presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani's background and influences that explain his moral code, which is at once rigid (in public) and flexible (in private life). Click here for the High Resolution Photograph As Editor-at-Large Evan Thomas and Senior Writer Suzanne Smalley write, on the one hand, Giuliani has been a crusader against outlaw policemen, as well as mobsters, pornographers, drug dealers, crooked businessmen and politicians and death-dealing jihadists. He now offers himself as the presidential candidate who would deliver us from evil, from terrorism abroad and corruption at home. On the other hand, he was the man who appointed Bernard Kerik, now under indictm...

25 Nov 2007 12:32 Africa/Lagos Fire on board Oil Production platform London, 25 November/GNN/ -- MARITIME AND COASTGUARD AGENCY News Release (3) issued by The Government News Network on 25 November 2007 Aberdeen Coastguard is co-ordinating assistance to the Thistle Alpha Production Platform, which has an escalating fire, 124 miles north east of Sumburgh. The Coastguard was called at 8.10 am this morning to report that assistance was required. There are 159 people on board. The onboard fire team is working to extinguish the fire. The decision has been made by the oil production company Petrofac to begin down manning of the platform. Aberdeen Coastguard has scrambled the Gullfacs helicopter and the Coastguard helicopter Mike Uniform from Sumburgh. For further information please contact: The out of hours duty press officer on pager 07699 704430 or mobile 07703 584024 or during office hours: Maritime and Coastguard Agency Public Relations Office: (023) 8032 9401 Press releases and ...

I am happy that a new Prime Minister, the Christian gentleman, Kevin Rudd, has been elected in Australia. Howard should go and rest and save himself from the sleepless nights of his political nightmares.

23 Nov 2007 12:00 Africa/Lagos China Leads the US in Digital Self-Expression IAC and JWT study reveals new means of expression for China's Tech-Savvy Youth NEW YORK, Nov. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Millions of young Chinese are embracing the Internet as a discreet space for their thoughts and emotions, according to a survey of Chinese and American youth released today by IAC, which operates businesses in sectors being transformed by the Internet, and JWT, the fourth largest advertising agency network in the world. The findings show how readily young Chinese are taking to the Internet and its possibilities-for example, almost five times as many Chinese as American respondents said they have a parallel life online (61 percent vs. 13 percent). And while fewer than half of the 1,079 American respondents agreed that "I live some of my life online" (42 percent), a sizable majority of the 1,104 Chinese respondents agreed with the statement (86 percent). The two random online s...

22 Nov 2007 09:00 Africa/Lagos Celtel Nigeria Selects Motorola for $70 Million GSM/EDGE Expansion Turnkey agreement includes comprehensive Motorola services to further expand and enhance Celtel network with EDGE capability CAPETOWN, South Africa, Nov. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AfricaCom -- Motorola, Inc. ( NYSE:MOT ) today announced that it has received orders valued at $70 million from Celtel Nigeria, part of Zain Group, to further expand and enhance the operator's GSM coverage in the Southern part of Nigeria. As part of Celtel's comprehensive network expansion strategy, Motorola will deploy its latest Motorola Reach GSM solutions, including EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) capability for mobile data, and will provide comprehensive network expansion planning, integration, support and optimization services to Celtel as it extends network coverage to a growing subscriber base in this densely populated and strategically important oil- producing region. "Celte...

Norman Mailer When Norman Mailer died on November 10, 2007, the news of his passage was on the leading newspapers and major TV channels in America and Britain and I saw him on the CNN, SKY and the BBC. But none of these foreign news media reported the news of the passage of Cyprian Ekwensi who even died earlier in the same month on the 4th and my disappointment has been more pronounced by the ignorance of our own news media who only reported the news of Ekwensi's transition below their headlines and only The Guardian has given us a full report on the life of our own Charles Dickens, Cyprian Ekwensi. I have not even heard or read any statements by his contemporary literary icons like Chinua Achebe and Wole Soyinka. Cyprian Ekwensi I am really disappointed by the intellectual ignorance of the majority of Nigerians online and offline. That is why I do not have much regard for the ignorant posts of Nigerians on Nairaland and other Nigerian forums and blogs. Abubuwan da nake tunani has...

21 Nov 2007 18:07 Africa/Lagos Stem Cell Breakthrough Could End Human Embryonic Experimentation Cloner of 'Dolly the Sheep' denounces life-destructive research in light of new discovery MADISON, Wis., Nov. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Researchers have announced this week that they have made a significant breakthrough in stem cell research using adult skin cells that could end the use of live human embryos as research subjects. Scientists from the University of Wisconsin at Madison announced that they have identified four genes that, when manipulated, can force a skin cell back to the embryonic stage, creating a potentially unlimited supply of stem cells without having to destroy human embryonic life. The discovery was made simultaneously with independent researchers in Japan. In the wake of this discovery, the famed cloner of "Dolly the Sheep," Prof. Ian Wilmut, has abandoned and denounced the life-destructive therapeutic cloning in favor of the more ethical production ...

Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani are the best presidential candidates for their respective parties.

Nigeria: Siemens - My Hands Are Clean - Adebayo Leadership (Abuja) 20 November 2007 Posted to the web 20 November 2007 By Golu Timothy Former Minister of Communications, Chief Cornelius Adebayo has denied any involvement in the alleged bribe scandal involving a German telecom giant, SIEMENS, saying those who seek to draw him into the controversy are not fair to him. In a statement made available to LEADERSHIP last night and personally signed by the former minister, he said, he never at any point in time entangled himself throughout his four decades in public service, and therefore, it should not be at this age and time, that he will mess up his hard earned integrity. "My attention has been drawn to media reports as it affects Siemens in Nigeria, wherein my name has been mentioned with the allegation of collecting bribe at some 'unknown time after 2002'. While the fact remains that I was minister of Communications between July 2003 and August 2006, I wish to state very clea...

Nigeria: Siemens - My Hands Are Clean - Adebayo Leadership (Abuja) 20 November 2007 Posted to the web 20 November 2007 By Golu Timothy Former Minister of Communications, Chief Cornelius Adebayo has denied any involvement in the alleged bribe scandal involving a German telecom giant, SIEMENS, saying those who seek to draw him into the controversy are not fair to him. In a statement made available to LEADERSHIP last night and personally signed by the former minister, he said, he never at any point in time entangled himself throughout his four decades in public service, and therefore, it should not be at this age and time, that he will mess up his hard earned integrity. "My attention has been drawn to media reports as it affects Siemens in Nigeria, wherein my name has been mentioned with the allegation of collecting bribe at some 'unknown time after 2002'. While the fact remains that I was minister of Communications between July 2003 and August 2006, I wish to state very clea...

Siemens scandal: Culprits will be punished, vows President Yar’Adua The attention of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua has been drawn to media reports of the alleged bribery by an international Telecoms company (Siemens) of some past Nigerian public officials and wishes to assure the nation that anybody found culpable in the scandal would face the full wrath of the law.

Puja Bharwani reports . The Pakistani authorities have freed opposition leader Benazir Bhutto from house arrest hours before a caretaker prime minister was sworn in to oversee elections. Bhutto's release was welcomed in Washington. U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said other political detainees should also be freed. In a separate development, Musharraf swore in an ally as caretaker prime minister -- Senate Chairman Mohammadmian Soomro -- and a 24-member cabinet to oversee the parliamentary elections due by Jan. 9.

There are political subjects I deliberately ignore in Nigeria, because it would be a waste of time to discuss them. The primitive nature of the so-called Chief Adedibu and the political prostitution of Patricia Etteh, are enough to show us the stock-in-trade of the notorious People's Democratic Party of Nigeria. When I read that a Nigerian bank has won an award as the best bank in Africa, I chuckle and smirk, because only fools would be impressed. To those giving kudos to the PDP led government, I feel sorry for their conceit and deceit. If you really want to know the quality of the leadership of the PDP led government, please go on tour of the NYSC Camps in Nigeria and ask yourself if any sane government in the world would subject the future leaders of the country to such inhuman conditions and reduce Nigerian graduates to the state of animals in a ranch. When I see the administrators of the National Youth Service Commission, I feel like hanging them if not to have them shot. The ...

Dear Orikinla, Did you watch the debate last night? When there was the most at stake, Hillary put on her best performance. She was prepared, firm, and 100 percent ready to lead America. It was obvious to everyone watching: Hillary will be a president we can be proud of every day. But you don't have to take my word for it; you can watch Hillary for yourself. We've collected some of her best moments in one place on our website: Las Vegas Debate And I know that she would want me to tell you what a difference you are making for her. When I told her before the debate that you beat the remarkable goal of raising $1 million in just a few days, she told me that she was so proud to have you standing with her. We're achieving so much together. Thank you for all you do to help Hillary make history. Sincerely, Patti Solis Doyle Campaign Manager Hillary for President CONTRIBUTE NOW FOR THE ELECTION OF SENATOR HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON AS THE FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF...

Official Statement by the Nigeria LNG Limited on the Industrial Dispute Between the Nigeria LNG Limited and the Groups of Service Contractors in Rivers State, Nigeria A strike action was embarked upon on Monday, November 12, 2007, by some workers of some of the contractors providing services to NLNG at Bonny. This action has been at the instance of National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) officials seeking to unionize staff of these companies. In doing this, they have taken illegal actions, such as blockading the access to the plant, and at various times also blockaded the access to the Residential Areas (RAs), thus preventing staff, their families, as well as members of the communities and the public from gaining access to either the RAs or to the plant for their legitimate businesses. As far as we can establish, NUPENG, and the workers are predicating this illegal act on a false claim that NLNG is preventing them from unionizing under NUPENG. As a responsible and ...

Obudu Holiday Land The Longest Cable Car in the world Obudu Protea Hotel Abuja City Abuja Sheraton Hotel

Blackwater is guilty of the brutal murder of innocent Iraqis. The FBI said that 14 of the 17 Iraqis Blackwater killed last September in Baghdad were murdered in cold blood without cause.

Nigeria: Industrial Lockout at the Nigeria LNG The strike started by the Nigerian contract staff of the Nigeria LNG Limited on Monday became worse early Wednesday as the aggrieved Nigerian contractors embarked on a lockout of the Nigeria LNG Port Harcourt office and Bonny Plant Complex in Rivers state in the volatile Niger Delta region . The Nigerian contract staff of the Nigeria LNG in Rivers state embarked on a lockout of the Nigeria LNG Port Harcourt office and Bonny Plant Complex, Wednesday, to reinforce the industrial strike they started on Monday. The lockout is to prevent the permanent staff from working. The senior management of the Nigeria LNG limited is meeting with the contractors to resolve the industrial dispute over the unprofessional maltreatment of the Nigerian contract staff and the deprivation of other benefits. The Nigeria LNG Limited does not allow the Nigerian contract staff to benefit from the excellent medical services at the Nigeria LNG Hospital on Bonny Island,...