Davido, Chidinma Scoop Awards at Kora 2012

2012 is a great year for Nigerian artiste, Davido as he emerged the Best Male Newcomer at the 2012 Kora Awards that held last night in Abidjan. 2010 Project Fame West Africa Winner, Chidinma also won at the awards, leaving with the award for 2012 Best Female West African Act.

The Kora Awards, dubbed “Africa’s Grammys”, took place Sunday in Abidjan. There were earlier confusions about when the event would happen and when its star — US rapper Chris Brown — would arrive in Ivory Coast. But Kora spokesman Ernest Adjovi said late Saturday, “Everything will take place.
The award extravaganza, which originated in South Africa in 1994, was originally to have been held Saturday in Ivory Coast’s economic capital.
At the last minute, organisers claimed Brown had missed his flight and the show would be delayed until Monday.
But a source close to the ceremony said Brown “is not the real reason” the event was delayed, and blamed the postponement on organisational issues.

Rihanna’s love for Chris Brown is obviously getting stronger; she followed him to Abidjan for the Kora awards. We just hope Breezy makes her feel the way she wants; ‘like the only girl in the world’.
Also present at the award is Nigeria’s pop duo, P Square.

Denzel Washington Expected in Nigeria For New Movie Titled 'Spider Basket'

Hollywood super star actor, Denzel Washington, is expected in Nigeria next week to star in a movie, Spider Basket’, a movie being produced by Nigerian businessman Dennis Osadebe.

Osadebe and his Turkish partner, Abdulkadir Erkahraman, are presently in Nigeria awaiting the arrival of Washington.
Asked why he chose to invest in Nollywood, the Turkey based Osadebe said  "Denzel is just one of many Hollywood stars that I want to witness the talents in this country and to impact significantly on Nollywood. Others are coming. My second movie, By Fire by Force, is due to be premiered this month,”

Yobo and Osaze in War of Words!

 
Osaze is not happy with some NFA officials and in the process he indirectly disrespected Yobo on Twitter. In one of his tweets, he accused the Eagle's Captain for looking out only for himself. And also said the team lacks a true leader. Who is the Captain? Yobo! Lol. Anyway, here is what Yobo has to say:
 
“Osaze has been reckless, disrespectful to most people. He’s not a kid, he should grow up because we cannot continue to baby sit him,” MTNFootball.com quotes.
“This is not the first time he has been disrespectful. He is fighting all the coaches and at the (2010) World Cup he also disrespected me. He could be saying the right thing but he is going about it the wrong way.
“He is not the (Lionel) Messi or (Cristiano) Ronaldo of Nigeria. “He should look himself in the mirror”.

Shakira Delivers a Baby Boy

 
The newest parent to join the block is Waka Waka singer Shakira and Barcelona Player Gerard Pique, they are both the proud parent of a baby boy. With so many important events, mostly for the worse, all around the year, and so many competitive matches, this particular round off is perfect for both Shakira and Pique with the welcoming of a cool dude into their home. 

Injured Kogi State Governor Airlifted To Abuja… Leg ‘Totally Broken’

New indications have emerged that Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State who was involved in a ghastly motor accident some few hours ago in which his ADC was killed, may have lost one of his legs.
Doctors at the Lokoja Specialist Hospital where Mr. Wada received first aid treatment said his leg is “totally broken.”
 
A government official who revealed that the governor was brought into the intensive care unit with a severely fractured femur according to the doctors, added that they said he is in good condition and did not sustain major head or spinal cord injuries.
“There is hope,” he said.
According to a source in the government house, the state government arranged for a helicopter which flew the governor to the National Hospital in Abuja.

INEC DE-REGISTERS 3 MORE PARTIES

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has de-registered three more political parties.
This is coming on the heels of the 28 political parties de-registered last week by the commission.
In a press statement signed by the Secretary of the commission, Abdullahi Kaugama, INEC said it drew its power from the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2010 (As amended). The affected political parties are, African Renaissance Party (ARP); National Democratic Party (NDP); and National Transformation Party (NTP).
According to Mr. Kaugama, the de-registration of both African Renaissance Party and National Democratic Party is premised on the allegations that the composition of National Executive Committee (NEC) of the parties fail to meet the requirements of Section 223(1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended).
INEC also alleged that the parties have “no verifiable Headquarters office contrary to Section 222(f) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As amended)” and have “not won a seat in the National and State Assemblies”
The statement said the National Transformation Party (NTP) was deregistered because the composition of National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party fails to meet the requirements of Section 223(1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended) and the NTP has not won a seat in the National and State Assemblies.
The INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega had on Tuesday warned that apart from the 28 deregistered parties, “more parties could be de-registered so long as they fail to meet the requirements of the law”.

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission offers security advice to smartphone users

IDG News Service -The U.S. Federal Communications Commission is advising smartphone users on how to protect their mobile devices and data from mobile security threats.
The Commission released an online tool called the "Smartphone Security Checker" on Tuesday that outlines a 10-step action plan that mobile users can follow to prevent their personal data from being exposed in case their devices get infected with malware or are lost, stolen or resold.
 
The tool provides recommendations including: locking access to the phone with PINs or passwords; avoiding changing the phone's factory security settings or rooting/jailbreaking the phone; backing up the phone data regularly in the cloud, on a computer or on a removable memory card; installing apps only from trusted sources and after checking their user reviews; reviewing and understanding the permissions requested by applications before installing them; installing the firmware updates issued by the manufacturer; installing security apps that allow remote locking and wiping of the phone; avoiding connecting to the Internet from untrusted wireless hotspots; wiping data from the phones before reselling; donating or recycling devices; and reporting stolen devices to the authorities and the operator for inclusion in a national database of stolen smartphones.
The recommendations were drafted by the FCC in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; the Federal Trade Commission; the National Cyber Security Alliance; CTIA, a wireless industry trade association; and other public and private sector partners including antivirus vendors and cybersecurity organizations.
The tool allows smartphone owners to choose their device's OS. The available options are Android, Apple iOS, BlackBerry and Windows Phone. The steps are the same for all types of devices for the most part, but depending on the OS choice they might include links to OS-specific instructions for performing certain recommended actions.
The FCC checklist is one of the most comprehensive sets of rules for safeguarding smartphone devices and data published so far, said Bogdan Botezatu, a senior e-threat analyst at antivirus vendor Bitdefender.
"However, some provisions, although they make sense 'on paper,' are impossible to control by the user," he said. "For instance, most smartphones cannot be updated because vendors do not provide any security fixes past the maximum Android version supported by the respective hardware. Android versions from 2.3 to 2.3.3 are vulnerable to a number of known bugs -- some of them quite severe, such as USSD attacks -- but mobile phone vendors and carriers have stopped update delivery. In this context, the user is forced to either put up with an unsecured device that can be exploited at any time or to root their gadget and manually update its firmware."

source: computerworld

Nkiru Sylvanus Released By Abductors

Popular Nollywood actress, Nkiru Sylvanus, who was abducted last Saturday (December 15, 2012), in Owerri, was last night freed by her abductors. Also freed was Kenneth Okolie (Mr. Nigeria 2010), who had also been abducted along with her. They had been working on a movie, at the time of their abduction.

Nkiru Sylvanus and Kenneth Okolie

According to reports, they were blindfolded by their abductors and dropped off in an unfamiliar location, from where they were rescued. The Commissioner of Police for Imo State, Mr. Adisa Bolanta, has said that the police were instrumental to the release of the duo. The abductors had earlier demanded a ransom of 100 million naira for the release of the actress, but it is not certain if a ransom was paid.

American Civil Rights Leader Jesse Hill Jr. Dead at 86

Jesse Hill Jr. (Huffingtonpost.com/AP)

Jesse Hill Jr., an Atlanta civil rights leader and businessman who became the first black president of the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, died Monday at age 86, the Associated Press reports.
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said that Hill was an essential figure in bridging the divide between the business community and the African-American community. "Atlanta would not be what it is today without Jesse Hill Jr.'s extraordinary contributions," the mayor said in a statement.

Hill had a close relationship with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and helped make sure his legacy would be remembered, according to Steve Klein, a spokesman for the King Center, where Hill served as chairman of the board of directors from 1979 to 1995.
"He was very instrumental in developing the growth of the King Center and really a giant in Atlanta civic affairs," Klein said. "I don't think you could think of a major civic project in Atlanta for the last 20 or 30 years that he wasn't involved in."
Hill was born in St. Louis. He graduated from Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Mo., with a degree in mathematics and physics, and earned a master's in actuarial science from the University of Michigan. He joined the Atlanta Life Insurance Company in 1949 and eventually became the company's president and CEO. He retired in 1990.
Hill was named the head of the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce -- now called the Metro Atlanta Chamber, in 1978. Hill participated in several economic trade missions to Europe on behalf of the chamber and accompanied President Jimmy Carter on a trade mission to Nigeria.
In 1960, Hill helped create the Atlanta Inquirer, the city's first newspaper for the African-American community. He served as publisher until 1985

SA Airways wins Best Airline to Africa

South African Airways won "Airline of the Year" award, as well as "Best Airline to Africa" and "Best Business Class White Wine", at Global Traveler magazine's annual awards gala in Los Angeles last week.
The magazine cited SAA as a "perennial favorite" among its readers and the "perfect representative of South Africa’s personality, promise and culture".
It also added that SAA "is a standout in all aspects of the industry".
Executive Vice President of North America Todd Neuman was joined by fellow SAA executives, as well as a representative from the Consulate General of South Africa and key travel industry and corporate partners to receive the award.
"South African Airways would like to thank the Global Traveler Year Committee for the great honour of being named "Airline of the Year". We would also like to thank the readers of the magazine for voting SAA as "Best Airline in Africa"," Neuman said.
"These awards, plus the "Best White Wine International Business Class" are indicative that our efforts are working."
 

Enhancements to onboard products

Global Traveler’s recognition of SAA as "Best White Wine International Business Class" was for the Driehoek Sauvignon Blanc 2011, chosen by SAA and a panel of international judges during the airline’s annual comprehensive wine selection process, which is meant to showcase South African wines throughout the globe.
"Enhancements have been made to our onboard product for Premium Business Class customers, with added comfort to our flat-bed Premium Business Class seats, new menu choices from South African star chefs, expanded entertainment options and our award-winning South African wine cellar in the sky," Neuman said.
"Our enhancements in these areas will continue, as we strive to offer the fastest, most convenient and comfortable service to Africa for both business and leisure customers."
South African Airways has also introduced new service to cities such as Brazzaville in the Republic of Congo, Abidjan in Ivory Coast and Cotonou in Benin, among other cities that it has added to its already-extensive route network on the African continent.
It is also featuring meal selections from South African star chefs, first with Chef Reuben Riffel, and now with Chef Benny Masekwameng, a judge on South Africa’s Master Chef TV series.
"Congratulations to South African Airways for being named 2012 Airline of the Year," said Globe Traveler's publisher and chief executive officer, Francis X. Gallagher.
"I couldn’t agree more with the decision of our Advisory Board in selecting the airline.
"The product, service and onboard amenities are among the best in the industry and the award-winning South African Airways is absolutely a leader in the marketplace," he said.

SAinfo reporter

Loya Milk unveils Don Jazzy as its new Brand Ambassador

Loya milk, from the stable of Promasidor Nigeria limited has officially unveiled the Mavin boss, as its new brand ambassador at a breathtaking event which took place on Friday in Lagos.
 
Don Jazzy, who was palpably excited about the appointment eulogised Loya milk for the honour and pledged to play his new role creditably.

Nigerian Navy Promtes 19 Officers

The Nigerian Navy has announced the promotion of 19 Commodores to the rank of Rear Admiral.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by the naval spokesman, Commodore Kabiru Aliyu and made available to newsmen. Also promoted are Captains, Commanders and Lieutenant Commanders.
 
“Apart from the 19 senior officers, 93 officers of the rank of Captains, Commanders and Lieutenant Commanders were also elevated to the next rank,” the statement said.
According to the statement, the 19 Commodores elevated to the rank of Rear Admiral include Commodores Peter Agba, S. Alade, B. Egbedina, N. Agholor, P. Ozojiofor, A. Anyampele and L. Iwuoha.
Others are Commodores Harry Ngonadi, Henry Babalola, Emmanuel Ofik, H. Ogoigbe, Jonathan Ango, A. Oshinowo, Osondu, A. Johnson and A. L. Akintola.
Three medical officers were elevated to the rank of Rear Admiral.

Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State is Reportedly Brain-Damaged

Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State, who was seriously injured when his plane crashed on October 25 in Yola, capital of Adamawa State, has reportedly suffered extensive brain damage and even failed to recognize members of a presidential delegation that visited him at a hospital in Hanover, Germany, an authoritative source has told SaharaReporters.
 
A source close to a senior member of the delegation which was led by Senate President, David Mark, included Governor Ibrahim Yakowa of Kaduna State, President Goodluck Jonathan’s chief of staff, Mike Oghiadomhe, also on the delegation was John Kennedy Opara, the secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) and the Chaplain of the Presidential Villa Chapel, Venerable Obioma Onwuzurumba, described the trip to see Mr. Suntai as highly secretive. SaharaReporters learnt that members of the delegation had officially traveled to Vatican City in Rome to witness the consecration of Archbishop John Onaiyekan as a Cardinal of the Catholic Church. After the ceremony in Italy, the delegation then made a quick detour to Germany to see the injured Mr. Suntai.
Our source said members of the delegation were shocked to see Mr. Suntai in a vegetative state. “His condition was so bad that they could not publicly disclose his condition after they returned to Nigeria,” said the source.
Since Mr. Suntai’s airlift to Germany, officials of the Taraba State government have engaged in propaganda, claiming that the governor was making remarkable recovery. But our sources, including an official of the state government, admitted that Mr. Suntai’s mental faculty had deteriorated since the accident and that his memory was virtually impaired.
“It is possible that he suffered brain damage because there was some delay before he could be taken abroad,” said a state official.
A Taraba-born political activist who is based in Abuja, has likened the present hide and seek game on the status of the Taraba state governor to the days of late president Umaru Musa Yar’Adua when his true state of health was concealed from Nigerians in order to prevent his vice, Goodluck Jonathan from being sworn-in as acting president.
According to him: “We all know how President Umaru Yar’Adua’s people continued to deceive Nigerians that the man was recovering well and how they even brought him back in a comatose state and declared that he was in control of Nigeria,” said the activist. He added: “I hope President Jonathan and the PDP are not planning a similar scenario whereby they will declare that Governor Suntai is in control – until they find a malleable successor who suits them.
“The fact that the people of Taraba have not heard from or seen the governor since the air crash on October 25 2012 means that the man is no longer fit to govern them,” he said.

- sahara reporters