Nigerian Times

OMG! Samsung pays Apple $1 Billion in 30 trucks full of 5 cent coins "You can use your coins to buy refreshments at the little machine for life or melt the coins to make computers, that’s not my problem, I already paid them and fulfilled the law." ~ Lee Kun-hee, Chairman of Samsung Electronics. Tweet

29 Mar 2013 13:30 Africa/Lagos 2013 Hollywood Film Awards Sets Pace for Awards Race Hollywood Film Awards Gala ceremony takes place on October 21, 2013 HOLLYWOOD, Calif., March 29, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- For a 17th consecutive year, the Hollywood Film Awards® continues its mandate of celebrating Hollywood cinema and recognizing excellence in Hollywood, both in-front and behind the camera. This year the Hollywood Film Awards® Gala ceremony takes place on October 21, 2013, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, in Beverly Hills. In the last 10 years, a total of 96 Oscar nominations and 34 Oscars were given to the honorees of the Hollywood Film Awards®. The "Los Angeles Times" recognized the Hollywood Film Awards® Gala Ceremony as a "pre-Oscar showcase," and the "New York Times," called it the "first mandatory stop in the awards season." "We are very excited to be having our seventeenth annual Hollywood Film Awards® Gala ceremony on October 21...

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace. 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding. ~ Ephesians 1:7-8, Holy Bible (New International Version). Friday, March 29, 2013 Lest We Forget "But He [Jesus] was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed."1 Today is Good Friday, the day we remember with profound appreciation that it was for this day that Jesus came to earth … to die in our place on that cruel Roman cross to save us from the terrible consequences of sin—a disease far deadlier than AIDS or any other disease that is a physical death sentence. Today, we also remember that Jesus Christ was not an ordinary man. True, he was a man but he was and is the Son of the Living God—the Great Creator who became our Savior—the one who laid aside his external garments of deity,...

In a dramatic ceremony March 24, 2013, First Baptist Dallas lit the 68-foot cross-tower fountain at the heart of its new $130 million campus opening Easter Sunday. First Baptist Church Dallas Lights Fountain of New $130 Million Campus Set to Open Easter Sunday Three-Quarter Acre Fountain Plaza Contributes to Greening and Grandeur of Downtown Revitalization DALLAS, March 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — First Baptist Church of Dallas, which will open its new state-of-the-art $130 million campus, the largest Protestant church building campaign in modern history, on Easter Sunday, began the first of its month-long grand opening celebrations last night with the lighting and dedication of the high-impact cross-tower fountain. “We gather tonight with a clear purpose, not to celebrate a new building but to celebrate new life in Jesus Christ,” said Dr. Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Church. “Next week we change our place of worship, but some things never change – God, our love for...

There Will Never Be Another Chinua Achebe, But… When I was a boy growing up in Nigeria, becoming a novelist was a far-away dream. ~ Chinua Achebe as the recipient of the 2010 Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize, when he was the David and Marianna Fisher University Professor and professor of Africana studies at Brown University , USA. I thought today would be one of my happiest days. I was well dressed in my favourite blue shirt and cream trousers and black shoes. And I thanked God its Friday. I had an appointment to interview Greek Nigerian singer Jojo Stavro at D'Stage on Modupe Johnson Crescent in Surulere, Lagos. I had to see my one and only first lady before entering the car. She knew where I was going to. "What should I get you?" I asked her. "Anything you want to," she replied. She hardly asked me for anything, because she knew I would always get her what she loved. Even the gold necklace to be customized for her is coming without her asking fo...

Chinua Achebe (born Albert Chínụ̀álụmọ̀gụ̀ Àchèbé, 16 November 1930 – 22 March 2013). Tweet

Postmaster General and CEO Patrick R. Donahoe. Mail is Big Business The U.S. Postal Service is the core of the $1 trillion mailing industry that employs more than 8 million people.* These types of mail brought in most of the $65 billion in revenue in 2012: First-Class Mail — $28.9 billion Advertising Mail — $16.4 billion Shipping & Package Services — $11.6 billion Periodicals — $1.7 billion If it were a private sector company, the U.S. Postal Service would rank 42nd in the 2012 Fortune 500. In the 2012 Global Fortune 500 list, the U.S. Postal Service ranked 135th. * The Mailing Industry Job Study, March 2011, reported that there are more than 8 million jobs and more than $1 trillion in revenue attributed to the mailing industry. 18 Mar 2013 18:37 Africa/Lagos Postmaster General Says Technology is Making Mail More Powerful Urges Mailing Industry to Focus on Innovation in Delivery, Digital Integration and Targeting SAN FRANCISCO, March 18, 2013 /PRNewswir...

17 Mar 2013 13:46 Africa/Lagos Transparency International calls on Nigerian president to rescind controversial pardon of corrupt politician BERLIN, 14 March 2013 / PRNewswire Africa / - Transparency International, the global anti-corruption organisation, calls on President Goodluck Jonathan to rescind the pardon granted to Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha ("DSP"), the former governor of the oil-rich state of Bayelsa, who was convicted for money laundering and other serious corruption offences in 2007. “This decision undermines anti-corruption efforts in Nigeria and encourages impunity. If the government is serious about uprooting public corruption, sanctions against those who betray the public trust should be strengthened, not relaxed,” said Akere Muna, vice-chair of Transparency International. Mr. Alamieyeseigha will now be able to stand for public office again. President Jonathan should show that he is committed to fighting corruption and endorse the effor...

Jojo Stavro, hit song "Let's Dance" is the toast of the air waves in Nigeria. A national call for love, peace and unity among all Nigerians. Who are the Stavro sisters? The Stavro sisters are Jojo Stavro, Eleni Stavro and Anna Stavro. They are Greek-Nigerians. Tweet

15 Mar 2013 22:00 Africa/Lagos Nat Geo WILD, the Sun Valley Film Festival and the African Wildlife Foundation Announce First Annual "WILD to INSPIRE Short Film Competition" Winning Filmmaker Will Apprentice With Acclaimed National Geographic Filmmaker in Africa SUN VALLEY, Idaho, March 15, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nat Geo WILD, in partnership with the Sun Valley Film Festival and the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), announced today at the Sun Valley Film Festival the first annual WILD to INSPIRE Short Film Competition—a short film competition that will give independent documentarians the chance to win an apprenticeship in wildlife filmmaking with an acclaimed National Geographic filmmaker in Africa. The WILD to INSPIRE Short Film Competition will accept submissions from April 1 through October 1, 2013. To capture the "WILD to INSPIRE" theme, each film should focus on nature, with the goal of inspiring people to let the wild into their lives every...

Another European born Cardinal has been elected as the new Pope. The son of an Italian railway worker in Argentina Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio has been selected as the new Pope of over 1 billion Roman Catholics on 13 March 2013 to succeed his predecessor Pope Benedict XVI whose controversial resignation in February shocked the world. The new Pope has taken the name of Pope Francis I, the first time in papal history that this name had been used and he is the 266th pope. He was born on 17 December 1936 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was ordained a priest in 1969. He became the Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and was made a Cardinal in 2001. Jorge Mario Bergoglio is one of the five children of Italian immigrants Mario José Bergoglio, a railway worker, and his wife Regina María Sívori, a housewife. As a teenager, Bergoglio had a lung removed as a result of an infection. He studied and received a master's degree in chemistry at the University of Buenos Aires before he dec...

11 Mar 2013 19:10 Africa/Lagos Marriott Rewards Goes to Bat for New Movie About Baseball Legend Jackie Robinson Visit MarriottRewards42.com to Win Seats at Exclusive Hollywood Premiere of 42 BETHESDA, Md., March 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Marriott International and Marriott Rewards, the company's world-class loyalty program, are hitting a home run with 42, the upcoming film about baseball legend Jackie Robinson, who became an American hero when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, forever breaking Major League Baseball's color line. In support of 42, Marriott Rewards is putting travelers into the game with daily movie ticket giveaways and a chance to win exclusive access to the Hollywood premiere. S ee MarriottRewards42.com for rules and details.* (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130311/PH74747) "We want 42 to be a hit because we believe Jackie Robinson is a powerful role model and inspiration to people everywhere who aspire for greater opportunitie...

8 Mar 2013 14:40 Africa/Lagos Kupo the Fluffy White Dog on His Way to Becoming the Internet's Next Famous Pet with Facebook Milestone SAN FRANCISCO, March 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Sometimes people say he looks like a rug. Other times, he is mistaken for a teddy bear. However, if there's one thing certain about Kupo, no one would call him unpopular. With a growing audience for his Facebook page, this fluffy white puppy is rapidly becoming the next internet sensation, following in the paw-steps of his idols, Boo, the world's cutest dog, and Mark Zuckerberg's own dog Beast. (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130308/PH73387 ) Kupo's Facebook page has just passed 100,000 likes, no small feat for a puppy that's less than a year old. But if his recent posts are any indication, he's set his sights higher, looking to reach a million likes and entering into the rarefied space reserved for only a small handful of famous pooches. Kupo's page featu...

DESIRE starring Homeland star Damian Lewis tells the story of Clark (Lewis), who delivers cars for a living, running into trouble after a chance encounter with a mysterious young woman (Sossamon) in the middle of a lawless desert. Directed by Adam Smith, this is a story of betrayal, retribution, passion and greed. "It promises to be an adventure," says Damian. "Jaguar cars have played some iconic roles in film for many years and I'm looking forward to being the first to drive the F-TYPE in film." Desire was directed by Adam Smith and produced by Ridley Scott Associates and the première is in April. The following is the full report of the press release. JAGUAR RELEASES DRAMATIC TRAILER FOR UPCOMING SHORT FEATURE FILM ‘DESIRE’ WITH RIDLEY SCOTT ASSOCIATES http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhJbPffYziA Golden Globe and Emmy Award winning actor, Damian Lewis, plays the lead in a short feature film, created by Jaguar in association with Ridley Scott Ass...

Where Are the 44 Million Nigerians On the Internet? Nigeria reportedly has about 44 million internet users in 2013. We are the most populous nation in Africa, so I am not surprised. With a population of about 170 million people, we should even have more than 44 million Nigerians using the internet since we have over 100 million users of mobile phones and almost all the mobile phones have access to the internet. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) reported that mobile subscriber base in Nigeria will increase to 120 million in 2013. Tracking the whereabouts of the 44 million Nigerians on the internet has not been easy, from Nairaland to Facebook and Twitter. I found out that majority of the Nigerian internet users are those using Yahoo, Gmail and Hotmail just for emails. There are currently about 5, 357, 500 Nigerians on Facebook and they are the largest population of Nigerians on any social network site. Most of them are the same people visiting Nairaland, the most pop...