Sports: Drogba Pledges Better Aimes Ahead

Three coaches, boardroom upheaval and a reported players’ strike — Didier Drogba’s first season in China hasn’t exactly been smooth, but it looks like he’ll stick around next year.
Speculation about Drogba’s future has been intense but the Ivorian striker appeared committed to the Chinese Super League (CSL) when he spoke of making a fresh start with the club next season.

Didier Drogba attends a press conference. AFP PHOTO

“Because I joined Shenhua relatively late, I didn’t prepare with the team early in the season, so our results this year were not very good,” he said, according to the Shanghai Morning Post.
“But I hope next season I can start again from the beginning with Shenhua.”
Drogba has scored eight goals in 11 games since joining former Chelsea colleague Nicolas Anelka in Shanghai mid-term, earning the nickname “Devil Beast” as he terrorised Chinese defences.
But despite his prolific record, Shenhua finished a lowly ninth out of 16 teams.
It’s a disappointing return after the club’s owner, video game mogul Zhu Jun, splashed out on Anelka and Drogba — who are reportedly on hundreds of thousands of dollars a week — in a bid to land Shenhua’s first title in nearly a decade.
However, after a season of serious internal strife, it’s something of a surprise that both players are still at the club.
Zhu made world headlines when he spent big to lure Anelka, China’s first direct import from the English Premier League, and French coach Jean Tigana to the Hongkou Football Stadium.
But ex-Fulham boss Tigana was hit by a player revolt against his training methods after just five games in charge, and was dismissed in April after weeks of speculation and rumours.
At a game against Tianjin, Tigana departed the stadium before the kick-off, leaving Shenhua without a coach for the match and with empty seats on the home bench.
The situation barely improved when Anelka, who had no coaching experience and is nicknamed “Le Sulk” for his moody demeanour, announced he had been appointed as Tigana’s replacement.
Anelka was furious when Zhu brought in ex-Argentina coach Sergio Batista to helm the team, but he was soon placated and when Drogba arrived in July it looked as if the club had turned the corner.
Drogba was given a hero’s welcome by hundreds of cheering fans at the city’s Pudong Airport, with Shanghai police saying it was their biggest operation ever mounted for a celebrity.
Chinese football’s biggest star quickly became a hit on the pitch, delighting the fans by scoring a brace in a 5-1 demolition of local rivals Hangzhou Greentown in early August.
However, the feel-good factor didn’t last long as by the end of the month Drogba and Anelka became pawns in a boardroom dispute that raised questions over their futures in Shanghai.
Zhu said his fellow owners had promised him a majority stake due to his heavy investment, and he threatened to withhold the foreign players’ salaries unless they handed it over.
A few weeks ago, pictures of casually attired players strolling around instead of training filled the Shanghai back pages, as newspapers said they were protesting at not being paid.
Drogba and Anelka missed several games towards the end of the season, apparently due to injury, but many fans drew a link with the ownership dispute — which is still dragging on.
“I don’t think many people believed they were injured,” said Shenhua fan Ma Haiping, 31.
The team’s unconvincing form was also cause for tension with Drogba smashing furniture in the dressing room, according to Chinese reports, after a draw with local rivals Shanghai Shenxin in September.
Drogba, who spoke of raising the league’s profile and even improving ties between China and Africa when he arrived in Shanghai, seems to have taken it in his stride — and is a huge hit with fans.
“Drogba is massive, he motivates the players, he reactivated Anelka, and terrified the opponents, he’s the king no doubt,” enthused Shenhua fan Bobby Lu.
And after scoring in the final game of the season, a 3-0 win over Qingdao Jonoon, he signed off with a promise to return next year.
“Wait for me, I’ll be back,” Drogba told the Oriental Sports Daily, as he left Hongkou Football Stadium on Saturday.

News: US To Approve A Lroposal To Legalize Marijuan

Colorado on Tuesday became the first US state to approve a proposal to legalize marijuana, including for recreational use, with Washington state appearing set to follow suit, according to US media.
The western state, one of three voting on the measure, voted by 52.7 percent in favor to 47.3 percent against, according to the Denver Post, with over 50 percent of votes counted. CNN gave 53 percent for with 47 percent against.
A number of US states have legalized the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes, but Colorado, Oregon and Washington state all voted Tuesday on legalizing recreational use as well.
In Washington state 55 percent of voters backed the move, with 45 percent against, according to CNN and NBC, citing figures with 50 percent of votes counted.
In Oregon voters appeared set to reject the proposal, with 55 percent against and 45 percent in favor, according to CNN, with 47 percent of votes counted.

News: President Obama wins re-election.

Barack Obama’s re-election for another term in the White House opens a new chapter in the already historic tale of the first black president of a nation scarred at birth by a deep racial fault line.
But for Obama partisans his re-election was essential. Only with a full eight years at the helm of the US presidency will he be remembered for the change he wrought and not just for the change he represented.

America's first black U.S. president has won re-election. President Obama won Ohio, securing him re-election as president of the United States with 303 electoral votes (thirty three more than he needed) to Romney's 206. He defeated Romney in key states.

Entertainment: Fight- Fans vs Tonto Dike

Tonto Dike has appeared in our faces again barely a month after that messy fight with fans on the battle grounds of twitter, this time with a tweet not about her music, movies or tattoo, but rather, on the state of her virginity which she’s publicly announced was lost to Mavin crew Boss Don Jazzy.
Her tweet read ‘I got disvirgined by @DONJAZZY” i think this a lil bit Too Much info.’
She is not alone on this thought as a lot of her followers on twitter also think the same way and it’s beginning to generate an uproar.

*Tonto Dike

Already Don Jazzy has tried making a joke of it by quickly re-tweeting ‘lol me dat im still a V,’ (‘V’ standing in as Virgin).
Fans, however, are not sniffing the lighter side of this development as many have pounced on the tweet by Tonto alleging she’s going low and desperately trying to remain in the public eye with such tweets. Others claim it was unnecessary, joke or no joke.
As another army of willing fighters grow again, Tonto Dike has thankfully remained silent.
This writer hopes she does, for just one counter word from her and another bitter, messy war with fans could begin again.
Fans had attacked her in October after she reacted to tweets about her new single. Both sides had called each other names until Tonto Dike stopped responding.

Entertainment: 2face reacts to ban on birth control pill.

2face Idibia is rarely in the news except for brief announcements of his many country tours and ofcourse that period he proposed to and married Annie Macaulay, he’s however making headlines for a new reason now.
A birth control pill (names withheld) is being rumoured to be banned soon by the federal government and its a hot topic on twitter but not because of the drugs alleged ban, rather it’s for the star, 2face, who has been roped into the story and he’s not finding this funny.

•2face

In a swift reaction, the enter the place crooner has taken to twitter to caution those tweeting @2face Idibia about the ban on the birth control pill and making jokes out of it.
His tweet read “I pity all of una wey dey tell me about (name of drug here withheld) #Shallow minds
and later … Father forgive them for they know not what they say
His followers on twitter are still taking this as funny but not 2face Idibia.

News:Teacher sentenced.

Cairo, An Egyptian School Teacher received a six-month suspended jail sentence on Tuesday for cutting the hair of 12-year-old girl pupils who were not wearing Islamic headscarves, a judicial source said.
Iman Abu Bakr Kilany, a science teacher, said she had been removed from the school in the southern town of Luxor after complaints by relatives of the girls – the only two in her class who did not wear headscarves.
She said she was being moved to an administrative job and docked one month’s salary.
Egyptian human rights groups and women’s organisations condemned the incident as an example of hardline Muslims trying to impose their values on others since Islamists took power in Egypt.
Many Egyptian women wear the headscarf, but the country’s Islamic scholars generally said it should be done out of free choice.
That view was shared by the Muslim Brotherhood, the group that propelled Mohammed Mursi to the Presidency in June.
Kilany said last month she had asked all her students to put on the headscarf because it was required for girls older than 10 – a view disputed by many Muslims.
While Mursi and his administration have repeatedly said they would not impose strict Islamic codes of behaviour, the rise to prominence of an array of Islamist groups alarmed more secular-minded Egyptians and the sizeable Christian minority.
In one headline-grabbing incident, a young man out with his fiancée was stabbed to death by three Islamist zealots in Suez in July.
The killers were sentenced to 15 years in jail.

Entertainment: Elliott Carter, US Composer, Died At the Age Of 103.

Carter remained very active towards the end of his life

US classical composer Elliott Carter has died at the age of 103.

Known for his challenging and complex pieces, he won two Pulitzer Prizes and was also honoured with the US National Medal of Arts.
While not widely known by the general public, he was hugely respected by critics and musicians.
In 2002, The New York Times said Carter's string quartets were among "the most difficult music ever conceived".
Carter was hailed by fellow composer Igor Stravinsky for his Double Concerto for harpsichord, piano and two chamber orchestras (1961) and Piano Concerto (1967), both of which Stravinsky dubbed "masterpieces".
In a BBC Radio 3 interview 12 years ago, Carter said hearing Stravinsky's famous work The Rite of Spring in the 1920s was what made him want to become a composer.
"It was a scandal. Everybody walked out of the hall and people were terrified. Maybe that's why I liked it but in any case I became a fan of modern music in very early adolescence."
His music publisher, Boosey & Hawkes, said in a statement announcing his death: "The great range and diversity of his music has, and will continue to have, influence on countless composers and performers worldwide.
"He will be missed by us all but remembered for his brilliance, his wit and his great canon of work."
Elliott once said he was unperturbed by his apparent lack of fame.

Carter received the Juilliard Medal in 2005

"I don't think it means anything to be popular," he said.
"When we see the popular tastes and the popular opinion constantly being manipulated by all sorts of different ways, it seems to me popularity is a meaningless matter."
Carter composed more than 130 works, including 1942's Symphony 1 and 1944's Holiday Overture.
His later works included Dialogues (2004), which was nominated for the a Pulitzer, and 2006's Boston Concerto, nominated for a Grammy for best classical contemporary composition.
Roger Wright, the controller of BBC Radio 3 said he was a "significant figure" in contemporary classical music.
"He was significant, not just because his life spanned the 20th Century - he met and was influenced by so many people - but also because the way his music developed and changed in style," he said.
"I think he will be remembered for his music itself, but crucially for the way his music pushed classical music forwards. Stylistically he moved the art of classical music on."
"He was charming, generous and could be very witty and waspish, but a very open hearted person with a wonderful sense of humour and for that he will also be gratly missed," he added.
Carter's latest work, Instances - for chamber orchestra - will have its world premiere in February next year, and will be performed by the Seattle Symphony.
He won his first Pulitzer Prize in 1960 for his Second String Quartet, the second was for his Third String Quartet in 1973.
In 1998, he was inducted into the Classical Music Hall of Fame.
100th birthday He was also honoured with prestigious awards in France and Germany.
Carter said he found Europeans were more receptive to his work because music was part of the culture, "something that people make an effort to understand".
The composer celebrated his 100th birthday at New York's Carnegie Hall in 2008, where a new work of his was played by the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Carter was born in New York in 1908 and was first encouraged toward a musical career by his friend and mentor Charles Ives.
He went on to study literature at Harvard and then studied music in Paris under Nadia Boulanger, who also taught Leonard Bernstein and Aaron Copland.
It was his First String Quartet in 1951 which first brought him to the attention of music critics.
In 1939, he married sculptor Helen H Frost Jones.
He is survived by his son and a grandson.

Entertainment: Miss Ghana Will Come Up On Saturday, November 10, 2012,

Afro Neo-Soul songstress Efya will share the same stage with international music star Asa at the finals of the Miss Ghana 2012 pageant.

All roads lead to the International Conference Centre this Saturday, as the finals of the 2012 edition of the Miss Ghana pageant hit home.

In what is expected to be a fun-filled finale, Ghana’s finest female music sensation Efya comes face to face with the Jailer singer.

Exclusive Events Ghana, organizers of the pageant say Nigerian comedian Basket Mouth, Sherifa Gunu and Gyedu Blay Ambolley among other surprise acts, will treat the thousands expected to attend, to some great entertainment.

18 beautiful and intelligent young ladies will compete for the coveted title of Miss Ghana 2012.

Miss Ghana 2012 is powered Exclusive Events Ghana.

Tickets are available at the Silverbird Lifestyle Store and CITI FM for GHC 70.

                                                                          Stars

Sports: Odey Has Tipped The Super Falcons To Beat South-Africa

Former Super Falcons assistant coach, Rolandson Odey has tipped the Super Falcons to beat  South-Africa’s Bayana Bayana when they meet tomorrow in the semi final of the ongoing Africa Women Championship, AWC, in Equatorial Guinea.
The Coach Kadiri Ikhana-tutored Falcons on Sunday qualified for the semi-finals of the AWC after thrashing Ivory Coast 3-1 in the final Group B match.
The victory guaranteed the Super Falcons a top place finish in the group to face South Africa, who finished second in Group A.
Speaking on the chances of the Nigerian team against South Africa, Odey said: “We have no reason to worry about our girls playing against South Africa. We have been defeating them anytime we play against them in competitive championships, and I have no doubt we will beat them again when we play on Wednesday (tomorrow).”
Nigeria have won all but one of the seven editions of the biennial championship, and despite the threat posed by the hosts, who are the only other winners of the competition, Odey believes the Falcons still remain the favourites to win the ongoing tournament.
“We have an edge over other countries. We have the best team as far as this championship is concerned, and this makes our team the favourites to win again after the last edition held in South Africa,” he said.
Nigeria edged Equatorial Guinea 4-2 in the final of the last edition to reclaim the title they lost to Equatorial Guinea when they hosted the event four years ago.

                                                                Super Falcons

News: Rev King Appeals Death Verdict At The Court Of Appeal, Lagos.

The General Overseer of Christian Praying Assembly, Chukwuemeka Ezeugo (alias Rev. King), on Monday urged the Court of Appeal in Lagos to quash his conviction and death sentence.
Ezeugo was sentenced to death by a Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, on Jan. 11, 2007 for the murder of one of his church members, Ann Uzoh.

Rev. King

The convict urged the court to take his appeal, saying the lower court, presided over by Justice Joseph Oyewole, erred in law in many respects and miscarried justice on the matter.
At the hearing of the appeal, counsel to Ezeugo, Mr Olalekan Ojo, adopted the appellant’s brief and his reply.
The respondent, Lagos State Government, represented by its Solicitor-General, Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN), also adopted its brief.
Ezeugo was arraigned on Sept. 26, 2006 on a six-count charge of attempted murder and murder but he pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The prosecutor had said that the convict poured petrol on the deceased and five other persons and that Uzoh died on Aug. 2, 2006 , 11 days after the act was done to her.
Counsel to Ezeugo had filed a notice of appeal on Jan. 16, 2007, containing 16 grounds of appeal against the judgment.
On June 10, 2008 , the Court of Appeal had granted him leave to argue the additional 16 grounds of appeal through an amended notice of appeal filed on June 15, 2008.
Ojo had argued that Ezeugo was innocent of the crime he was convicted of because he was never at the scene of the act. He said that the deceased had in two statements made after the incident and before her death stated that she was burnt in a generator accident and that the convict was not responsible for her burns.
Ojo said that the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) had tendered statements which stated that the appellant was not responsible for the burns which led to Uzoh’s death but these were not admitted in evidence.
He argued that if those vital exhibits had not been expunged by the trial judge, they would have operated to cast serious doubt on the case of the prosecution.
Ojo added that the refusal by the trial judge to admit the exhibits in evidence, occasioned a miscarriage of justice.
He urged the appeal court to determine whether the trial judge was right in expunging from the record in writing its judgment, the declaration of the deceased, exhibits P1 and P4, as well as oral evidence of the deceased that the burn injuries were from a generator accident.
The lawyer added that an aspect of fairness and impartiality which a court should exhibit was that it must not raise an issue suo motu and resolve it against a party without having heard the side of the party against whom the issue had been resolved.
Meanwhile, counsel to the state, Pedro, urged the court to uphold the court verdict and dismiss the appeal for lack of merit.
He argued that the Evidence Act permitted the expunging of inadmissible evidence, adding that the fact that counsel to Ezeugo did not address the court was immaterial as the court was the master of the evidence before it.
Pedro said there was enough corroborating evidence, both written and oral, upon which the conviction was secured.
The court reserved judgment to a date that would be communicated to both parties.

Entertainment: D’banj Has Just Won MOBO Award.

Dapo Oyebanjo’s dreams are unfolding before his own eyes; he wanted to make collaborations with international acts, he got it, he wanted to be signed with an international label and be a heavy weight on the music stage, he got it, and  now, aside his many awards,  D’banj has just won this year’s Music of Black Origin MOBO award.

                                              D’banj

The Koko master beat stiff competition to clinch this prize as pop heavy weights P-Square  and the very best of African acts including Spoek Mathambo, Fally Ipupa, Sarkodie, Cabo Snoop, Camp Mulla and Amadou and Mariam had all been in his way.
This award had evaded him for a long time; beaten last year by the star-on-fire Wizkid.
Dbanj by this award joins the list of past winners  2face Idibia (2007) 9ice (2008) and Nneka (2009)

News: Voters Grumble In US Elections

New Jersey (AFP) – New Jersey voters on Tuesday formed impatient lines amid rubble and rotting rubbish left by superstorm Sandy as election officials scrambled to be ready for the US presidential vote.
At Hoboken, one of the towns worst-hit by superstorm Sandy, one of the makeshift polling stations opened 40 minutes late at 6:40 am (1140 GMT). There were 60 people in the sharp morning chill surrounded by the debris.
“This is unacceptable, we have been here since six,” said Adora Agim, 38, a software engineer in the queue.
“Yesterday when I called the town clerk, they told me to go to my normal polling place.” She went to the designated school in the town on Tuesday morning and found a sign on the door saying it had moved to a community center for seniors. The flood damage was too great.
After the makeshift station opened, a volunteer came out and told the grumbling crowd: “Please excuse the appearance of this place, two days ago it was under two feet of water.”
Agim, a migrant from Nigeria who was backing President Barack Obama, said it was important to vote despite the troubles. “I have lived in a third world country where your vote does not matter,” she said.
John Margolis, a 46-year-old investment banker supporting Republican Mitt Romney, found that when he got in the electronic voting machine was not working. He was told to join another line to fill out a paper ballot. That queue was too long and he decided to return later in the day, perhaps enough time to change his mind about who to vote for.
“Fiscally I am 100 percent behind Romney, or I was until last week,” said Margolis who added that he had been impressed with the Obama administration’s response to the storm.
“It has been a long week in Hoboken, we only just got power yesterday,” he said, accepting the troubles taking part in democracy in New Jersey.
New Jersey is a Democratic bastion and should have no major impact on the result of the presidential election. But the government’s response could help swing voters elsewhere.
The northern half of New Jersey, and particularly Hoboken, suffered widespread storm damage when the storm hit on October 29. Hundreds of thousands of people remained without power on Tuesday and gasoline was rationed across much of the state.
Sandy, which began as a deadly hurricane in the Caribbean, pummeled 15 US states and prompted a huge tidal surge that killed at least 109 people in the United States and Canada and caused tens of billions of dollars worth of damage.

Entertainment: I Lost My Virginity To Don Jazzy- Tonto Dikeh

 
Tonto dike is never mile away from controversy, and dis time around she has not released another single or updated a semi nude photo.
The Nollywood actress sensationally claimed via twitter, that her first sexual experience was with foremost music producer Don jazzy.
"i got disvirgined by @Donjazzy i think this is a lil too much info" she wrote.
Don jazzy who was online at that moment choose to reply with a humour,He wrote."lol me dat am still a V (V meaning a virgin)

News: Boko Haram Has killed 3000.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Azubuike Ihejirika Monday in ilorin disclosed that the number of people so far killed by the Boko Hara sect  is 3000.
Consequently he said activities of the sect had adversely taken economic and psychological tolls on the people and business in the northern part of the country.

Major Mohammed Abubakar who was represented the chief of army staff said this  while declaring open the third inter-division and headquarters map reading competition organized by the Nigerian Army Education Corps (NAEC) at Sobi barrack in Ilorin..
Major Mohammed Abubaka the General Officer, Commanding 2 Division of the Nigerian Army,  also said that the current security challenges in the country require collective and extra efforts to tackle.
According to him, “The changing nature of threats to Nigeria’s national security environment has manifested in the militancy, kidnapping, violent extremism and terrorism.
It is a know fact that terrorism worldwide is characterized by extremism, violence hatred, lack of respect for human dignity and constituted authority.
He added that,“The spate of bombings in parts of the north has necessitated the Nigerian Army to review its doctrine with a view to updating our training and operational procedures in order to fulfill our constitutional mandate.
Success in this pursuit, therefore calls for renewed and concerted efforts and initiative.
General Ihejirika  urged all and sundry  to remain resilient to “be able to overcome the miscreants and terrorist attacks on our psyche and our beloved country through conscientious effort for the country to make good progress.
It is in this line, that I commend the determination of NAEC to write and publish a book on ‘terrorism.’
“This will no doubt positively contribute to our determination to fight the present security challenges.
The book will also serve as a reference material for researchers on Nigeria Army viewpoint and strategy against domestic terrorism.”He added.
Earlier, the Corps Commander, NAEC, Major-General Lucky Banjiram said the current security challenges in the country had continued to undermine national security.
He added that the challenges had thereby placed great strains and demands on the Nigerian army’s resources,stressing that “it becomes necessary therefore to re-emphasise the need for training and retraining of army personnel”.
He explained that  the competition is NAEC’s effort towards the training of its personnel and the creation of a pool of instructors in map reading for the Nigerian army.

News: Three Commissioners Sacked.

There was a minor shake-up in Oyo State Monday as Governor Abiola Ajimobi sacked three of his commissioners.
While speaking with newsmen after the state executive council meeting Monday, the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Akin Olajide gave  the names of the sacked commissioner as Alhaji Yunus Akintunde (Works and Transport); Mr. Bosun Oladele,  Information and Orientation and Mr. Kazeem Adedeji who was in charge of the Ministry of Trade, Investment and Cooperatives.
Also,  the name of a current Special Adviser to the governor on Education and former governorship candidate of Action Alliance (AA) in the state, Taiwo Otegbeye has been sent to the State House of Assembly for confirmation as a Commissioner.
Six other commissioners swapped positions.
According to him, the former Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Bimbo Kolade has been moved to the Ministry of Lands, while the erstwhile Commissioner for Lands, Mr. Ajiboye Omodewu, will now take over the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
Mr. Peter Odetomi, formerly of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs is now Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, while Mr. Lowo Obisesan, formerly of the Ministry of Establishment and Training, will now swap the ministry with his Environment counterpart, Mr. Wasiu Dauda.
The reshuffle also saw the erstwhile Commissioner for Applied Science and Technology, Mr. Adegbenro taking charge of the Ministry of Trade, Investment and Cooperatives, while the name of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Pastor Taiwo Otegbeye has been forwarded to the state House of Assembly for confirmation as a commissioner.
In the cabinet reshuffle, Tokunbo Fayokun,(Education) Dapo Adesina, (Sports and Youth Development), Nurudeen Olarinde(Economic, Budget and Planning), Bimbo Owolabi(Water Resources, and Zacheaus Adelabu(Finance) retained their positions.
Also retained were Kafayat Adeojo (Urban and Physical Planning), Mutalab Ojo Adebayo (Justice), Tinuke Osunkoya (Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation) and Muyiwa Gadegesin (Health).
The SSG explained that the cabinet reshuffle was aimed at enhancing more effectiveness and efficiency in line with the restoration, transformation and repositioning agenda of the Ajimobi administration.
“They (those who were dropped) have not committed any offence. It is just to increase the tempo of governance in some key areas, so as to achieve the agenda we have set for ourselves within the time available,’’ he  explained.

News: DMO Workers Want To Donate 5% To Flood Victims

The Staff of the Debt Management Office (DMO) have offered to contribute at least five per cent of their November Salaries to the flood victims.
A statement made available in Abuja on Monday said the staff members agreed to pay the contribution into the Flood Relief Fund.
“We have a message of hope for all our people devastated by the flood, your fellow citizens are standing by you and we all share in your tribulations.
“We pray for you and trust that by God’s grace, you will overcome,’’ it stated.
The statement said the flood provided an opportunity for Nigerians to demonstrate their care for one another.
According to the statement, it is also an opportunity for Nigerians to show their oneness and their appreciation of the reality of a common destiny.
President Goodluck Jonathan in a national broadcast on Oct. 9 sensitised Nigerians on the widespread distress and destruction caused by the unprecedented floods that ravaged many parts of the country.
The president said the flood rendered tens of thousands of Nigerians homeless, caused massive destruction of property, farmlands, and infrastructure across the country.
He used the opportunity to thank State Governments, members of the National Assembly, private individuals and agencies of government for their contributions to the flood victims.
He also commended private sector, institutions, NGOs, faith-based organisations, and philanthropic groups who individually and collectively rose to the aid of persons and communities affected by the floods.
Jonathan noted that the humanitarian and compassionate spirit on display after the flood reassured Nigerians that at critical moments, Nigerians were able to come together in pursuit of a common purpose.

News: President Obama Appear in Wisconsin and Ohio

Bruce Springsteen will be joining President Barack Obama on the campaign trail on Monday, November 5, including a stop in Madison, Wisconsin, and a very special appearance with JAY Z in Columbus, Ohio. Details for the events and how to attend are listed below.

MADISON, WI

Location: Downtown Madison – general admission entrance is at West Mifflin Street and State Street

Doors open: 7:00 AM CDT Monday, November 5, 2012

Tickets: the event is free and open to the public although an online RSVP is required for entry into the event. Confirmation of your RSVP will be checked at the event which you can either show on your smart phone or bring a printed copy.

RSVP at www.barackobama.com/Madison2012

ADA Entrance is at East Doty Street and South Pinckney Street.  ADA parking is available at the Government East Lot at South Pinckney and East Wilson Street.

COLUMBUS, OH

Location: Nationwide Arena (200 W. Nationwide Blvd., Columbus, OH 43215)

Doors open: 12:00 PM EDT, Monday, November 5, 2012

Tickets: the event is free and open to the public, but tickets are required for entrance. One ticket per person will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

To pick up your ticket, visit one of the following locations beginning on Saturday, November 3rd from 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, and if tickets are still available will continue on Sunday, November 4th, from 12:30 PM – 4:30 PM.

Surface Lot
1701 Morse Road
Columbus, OH 43224

Tickets are also available at the following locations starting on Saturday, November 3rd from 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM EDT, and if tickets are still available will continue on Sunday, November 4th, from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM EDT.

OFA-OH Eastside Columbus Field Office
1005 East Long Street
Columbus, OH 43203

OFA-OH West Broad Field Office
2364 W. Broad Street
Columbus, OH 43204

News: Declaration of Biafra Republic-Over 500 Arrested

Over 500 persons who took part in the declaration of the Republic of Biafra on Monday have been arrested by the police.

Top on the list of those arrested by the police was the leader of the Biafra Zionist Movement, Mr. Ben Onwuka.

They were arrested in Enugu, Enugu State where the declaration took place.

News: Jonathan tells Governors of Rivers and Bayelsa States, to End Media War

President Goodluck Jonathan has directed the governors of Rivers and Bayelsa states as well as elders and leaders of the host community involved in the dispute over oil wells to cease media hostilities pointing out that the escalation in the media war would not help in the peaceful resolution of the dispute.
The president’s position was conveyed in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati.
According to the president, the media campaign is not only unbecoming, it was also unnecessary and unhelpful to the reconciliation process.
The statement reads:
“The Presidency has noted with concern the rather unbecoming, unnecessary and unhelpful   media war between the Bayelsa and Rivers State Governments over the rightful ownership of some oil wells.
“The Presidency believes that this media war which appears to be escalating with each passing day can only hinder and negate efforts already initiated by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to achieve an amicable resolution of the dispute in the best interest of the affected communities, the two states and the nation.
“President Jonathan therefore requests the Governors of both states to facilitate and help to create the right atmosphere for the successful conclusion of the peace process by ordering an immediate stoppage of all acrimonious public comments against each other over the dispute.
“Having already had very useful discussions with the Rivers State Governor and Kalabari elders over the weekend, President Jonathan intends to take the process forward at another scheduled meeting at 11 am at the Presidential Villa on Friday, November 9, 2012 with the governors of the two states, leaders of the affected communities and all concerned stakeholders.
“President Jonathan consequently urges the two governors and leaders of the affected communities to ensure that no further spiteful or inciting comments are made against each other to pollute the right atmosphere for constructive dialogue and brotherly reconciliation which he is striving to promote for the amicable resolution of the dispute.
“He looks forward to receiving the Rivers and Bayelsa State delegations in Abuja on Friday”.

Sports: Mancini Denied Accusations

MANCHESTER, United Kingdom (AFP) – Roberto Mancini has strongly denied accusations that English Premier League champions Manchester City are in crisis, with the Italian saying he deserved “respect” for his work at the club.
City have scored half as many goals at this stage in the league as they did at this point last term and trail leaders Manchester United by two points, while they are staring down the barrel of a second successive Champions League group stage exit.
The club have yet to win in this season’s competition, with just a solitary point gained from their opening three group games — a home draw with Germany’s Borussia Dortmund – ahead of Tuesday’s visit of Dutch giants Ajax to Eastlands.
Meanwhile the arrival last week of Spaniard Txiki Begiristain as City’s director of football strengthened a Barcelona connection which began when City made Ferran Soriano their chief executive.
Inevitably, it also led to speculation Pep Guardiola, currently taking a year out of the game after phenomenal success at the Camp Nou, was being lined up to replace Mancini.
Reports in the British press last week suggested Mancini had been close to joining Monaco towards the end of last season when City trailed United in the race for the title.
But he insisted Monday he was going nowhere and pointed to three trophies in two years — the Premier League title, the FA Cup and the Community Shield — as proof he was repaying the lavish investment by the club’s Abu Dhabi-based owners.
“I don’t understand why you continue to ask me (about a move). Why? This is finished. I stay here because I work here. We won three trophies in two years.
“I am polite because I answered your questions. Every year I can have two or three new situations where I can go. When you have a new team, the strong work is the first two years,” Mancini added.
“We won three trophies in two years, you should have respect for this, for me, for the club.”
Mancini is set to be without several players for the visit of Dutch champions Ajax, with Joleon Lescott, Micah Richards, James Milner, Jack Rodwell, David Silva and Maicon all expected to miss out through injury.
The manager bemoaned his side’s bad luck so far this season with injuries and a difficult draw ahead of the game with four-times European champions Ajax, which is a must-win game for City if they are to qualify for the last 16.
“We have this problem with some important players injured but when you have this problem, it is a time that all the players can put more on the pitch.
“This is the last chance for us.
“For us, it is the second year in Champions League. Probably we need more experience as a club, as a team, not as players because we have players who have played in the Champions League many times.
“Also, sometimes you should be lucky because every year the group is very difficult. Also, we did some mistakes against Madrid and Ajax.”
City midfielder Gareth Barry said the club had been found out with their below-par showings so far in this term’s Champions League but the England international insisted it was not too late to turn things around.
“We are finding it tough to put our finger on why we have not performed,” Barry said. “We have not produced our best performances.”
However, Barry insisted: “As a group of players we are going into this game believing we can win and that we can win the Champions League. The manager has given us belief that we can go through.”