South African billionaire (Patrice Motsepe) joins super-givers list

Mining magnate Patrice Motsepe, the richest black South African, has pledged to give half the income generated by his family assets to charity - becoming the first person outside the US to take the Giving Pledge started by Microsoft founder Bill Gates and billionaire Warren Buffett.
Making the announcement at a press conference in Johannesburg on Wednesday, Motsepe, the founder and executive chairman of African Rainbow Minerals, said the Motsepe family "will contribute at least half of the funds generated by our family assets to the Motsepe Foundation ... to improve the lifestyles and living conditions of poor, disabled, unemployed, women, youth, workers and marginalised South Africans".
Forbes Magazine has estimated Motsepe to be worth about US2.65-billion (R24-billion).

Businessman Patrice Motsepe at the 2006 World Economic Forum on Africa in Cape Town

 South Africans 'are compassionate people'

Motsepe, describing South Africans as "caring, compassionate and loving people", said "it has always been part of our culture and tradition to assist and care for less fortunate and marginalised members of our communities. This culture is also embodied in the spirit and tradition of ubuntu/botho."
He said that he and his wife, Precious, had also been inspired by, and had decided to join, the Giving Pledge, which encourages wealthy families worldwide to give at least half of their wealth to charity.
"Precious and I recognise the huge responsibility and duty that the Motsepe family has to poor, unemployed, disabled, women, youth, workers and marginalised South Africans. We also have an ongoing obligation of nation building, uniting black and white South Africans, and contributing towards making South Africa, Africa and the world a better place."
The money will be handled by the Motsepe Foundation, established by Motsepe and his wife in 1999 to oversee their philanthropic initiatives. To help guide the foundation, Motsepe said he and his wife would be setting up an advisory council comprising religious leaders as well as "traditional, disabled, women, youth and labour leaders and other respected NGO and community upliftment leaders".
The Motsepe Foundation would "continue to focus on initiatives and projects which will assist the beneficiaries to become self-sustaining and independent".

Setting an example

Most of their donations had up till now been private, Motsepe said, "but the need and challenges are great, and we hope that our Giving Pledge will encourage others in South Africa, Africa and other emerging economies to give and make the world a better place.
"We will continue to work with and encourage governments on the African continent to implement fiscal, legislative, anti-corruption and other measures to ensure that their economies are globally competitive and attractive to private sector and other business investments", Motsepe added.
"Economies that are growing and have ethical and accountable political, business and other leaders are better positioned and substantially more effective in dealing with poverty, joblessness, illiteracy and disease."

Thanks to Buffett, Gates

Motsepe expressed his gratitude to Buffett "for the advice and wisdom he shared with me in Omaha during August 2012 and for inspiring thousands of people worldwide to give and care for the less fortunate.
"We would also like to thank Bill and Melinda Gates for their encouragement and for providing us with additional information on the Giving Pledge at our meeting in Cape Town during December 2012. Their work in Africa and other continents and their commitment to humanity continues to inspire us and many people throughout the world.
"Our culture, religious upbringing and values guided and influenced us in making this commitment, and we are proud that our children support our pledge", Motsepe said.
"Their future and the future of all South Africans requires us to give hope and build a better and brighter future for all our people."

SAinfo reporter

Blast strikes outside US embassy in Turkey Kills Two

The bomb appeared to have exploded at a side entrance of the US embassy [@eminimsi via Twitter]

Two people have been killed in an explosion outside the US embassy in the Turkish capital, police and media reports say.
The Associated Press new agency quoted a police official saying a suicide bomber had detonated an explosive device at the entrance of the diplomatic mission in Ankara.
Smoke rose from a side entrance to the embassy after the doorway was damaged and debris sent flying into the street on Friday.
The bomb appeared to have exploded inside the security checkpoint at the entrance of the embassy.
Private NTV television said two security guards at the entrance were killed.
It was not immediately clear what the cause of the blast was.
Television footage showed a door blown out and masonry from the wall around it scattered in front of the entrance, although there did not appear to be any more significant structural damage.
Police cordoned off the street in the Cankaya neighbourhood where many other state institutions and embassies are also located.
In July 2008, three gunmen and three Turkish policemen were killed in an attack outside the well-fortified US consulate in Istanbul.

New Missionary Training Center to Open in Mexico

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced that it will close its Benemerito de las Americas high school in Mexico City at the end of the school year in June and reopen it as a missionary training center (MTC) this summer.

Elder Daniel L. Johnson, president of the Church’s Mexico Area, announced the change at a Tuesday meeting at the facility in Mexico City. Elder Russell M. Nelson presided at the meeting and was accompanied by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland and other Church leaders.

“The future lies before us,” Elder Nelson said. “Now, instead of hundreds being educated at Benemerito, thousands will be educated here at the MTC. Many of them will come from other nations.”

Regarding the announcement, the Church issued the following statement to the news media on Tuesday:

Church leaders announced today that the Church-owned high school Benemerito de las Americas near Mexico City will become a training center for missionaries who will serve in Mexico and other counties of North, Central and South America.
Church leaders made the decision after considering every immediate alternative that could alleviate the demand at the Church’s other missionary training centers around the world, including the MTC in Provo, Utah.

The change will occur following the end of the current school year in June. The first missionaries will enter the new MTC beginning in July. The timing of the change will allow for a smooth transition and help accommodate increasing numbers of missionaries due to the recent change in age requirements.

Elder Nelson gratefully acknowledged the cooperation of Church leaders and members in Mexico. “We extend praise and gratitude to students, staff, faculty, families and graduates. You have made of this place a sacred and special location,” Elder Nelson said.

Church leaders recognized the history of the facility while looking forward to its important future. “This hallowed ground where we stand today will become more sacred with each passing year,” Elder Nelson said. “Better, higher and holier purposes will be served in the future than we’ve ever known before.”

From left to right: Elders David F. Evans, Benjamin De Hoyos, Daniel L. Johnson and Jose L. Alonso (all of the Seventy); Elders Jeffrey R. Holland and Russell M. Nelson (of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles); Elder Paul V. Johnson (of the Seventy); Bishop Gérald Caussé (of the Presiding Bishopric); and Elder Abraham Martinez (Area Seventy) stand in front of the Church-owned high school Benemerito de las Americas near Mexico City on Tuesday, 29 January 2013. The Church announced that the high school will become a training center for missionaries who will serve in Mexico and other countries of North, Central and South America

source- mormonnewsroom

Match Ball Champions League final on May 25 at Wembley Unveiled

The match ball for the Champions League final on May 25 at Wembley has been unveiled.

The ball has been designed to celebrate 50 years of European Cup and Champions League finals being played at the world famous venue.

Wembley hosted the European Cup final for the first time in 1963 when Italian giants AC Milan, starring Gianna Rivera, beat Portugal’s Benfica, with young star Eusebio, 2-1.
George Best was the main attraction when Manchester United defeated Benfica 4-1 in 1968, while Johan Cruyff played for Ajax as the Dutch masters beat Greek side Panathinaikos 2-0 in 1971.

Kenny Dalglish scored the only goal when Liverpool overcame Club Brugge 1-0 in 1978, before Barcelona made Wembley their second home.

Barca won the next two finals staged in England, the first coming in 1992 when Ronald Koeman downed Sampdoria with the only goal of the game in extra time.

In 2011, Manchester United were outclassed by Leo Messi and Co as the Spanish giants strolled to a 3-1 win.

The new ball will be seen from the start of the knockout stage of this season’s Champions League, which resumes on February 12.