If you're a little sensitive to the high pitched sounds of screaming youngsters, then have your ear plugs at the ready!
That is the roaring welcome Hollywood stars Andrew Garfield and Jamie Foxx received as they visited this school in Singapore on Friday (March 28).
The pair are currently in town to promote the upcoming 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2' movie which hits theatres from next month.
The surprise visit was organised by the World Wildlife Fund Singapore ahead of Earth Hour, a global event which aims to raise environmental awareness.
Doing their bit to show ecological commitment, Garfield
and Foxx were invited by the school to plant a tree in their garden.
But this brief stint of labour seemed to leave some rather thirsty...
Friday, March 28, 2014
Steel Panther - rock gods or comedy geniuses?
Steel Panther began as a band which parodied eighties metal groups. Now they've officially become rock gods in their own right, selling out venues internationally and are set to release their third studio album.
SOUNDBITE Steel Panther members, Michael Starr and Lexxi Foxx, saying (English):Michael Starr: "It's the most important record for any heavy metal band. Look - third record by Bon Jovi - 'Slippery When Wet', third record Van Halen..."
Lexxi Foxx: "What was that?"
Michael Starr: "I don't remember. Third records are pinnacle points in..."
Lexxi Foxx: "Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'"
Michael Starr: "There you go. That's his third record, right? Huge. So if you put those odds in a lottery, we're at like three per cent at having a number one record."
Michael Starr: "Well album song ideas or song ideas for the record usually come from experiences
Amazon.com says not planning free TV service
Amazon.com Inc has no plan to offer a free streaming TV service, a
spokeswoman said on Friday following a report that the online retailer
might turn up the heat against Netflix and Hulu.
Speculation about Amazon's plans for its TV service,
including the possibility that it could launch its own streaming device,
has increased ahead of a news conference in New York next week.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that the online retailer was considering a free, add-supported streaming TV and music service. Amazon spokeswoman Sally Fouts said no such plan was in the works.
"We have a video advertising business that currently offers programs like First Episode Free and ads associated with movie and game trailers, and we're often experimenting with new things," she said in an e-mail on Friday. "But we have no plans to offer a free streaming media service."
Amazon's streaming TV service currently comes included as part of its popular $99-a-year Prime service, which offers unlimited two-day shipping among other perks.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that the online retailer was considering a free, add-supported streaming TV and music service. Amazon spokeswoman Sally Fouts said no such plan was in the works.
"We have a video advertising business that currently offers programs like First Episode Free and ads associated with movie and game trailers, and we're often experimenting with new things," she said in an e-mail on Friday. "But we have no plans to offer a free streaming media service."
Amazon's streaming TV service currently comes included as part of its popular $99-a-year Prime service, which offers unlimited two-day shipping among other perks.
Angelina Jolie in Bosnia to campaign against war rape
(Reuters) - Actress Angelina Jolie
was brought to tears while talking to rape victims of the Bosnian war
during a visit on Friday to promote a campaign to end sexual violence
against women in war.
"There can be no peace while women in conflict or post-conflict zones are raped with impunity," the Oscar-winning actress said in Sarajevo.
Jolie was accompanied by British Foreign Secretary William Hague, with whom she will co-host a global conference in London in June on preventing rape being used a tactic in war.
She said she hoped the initiative would help break down taboos about war rape.
Witnesses said Jolie cried while listening to victims in the town of Srebrenica.
"Our tradition is not to talk about the rape," said Munira Subasic, the head of the association of Srebrenica mothers.
"Many women have been through it but don't talk about it. That is why this visit is important, to show them they don't have to cope with it alone," Subasic said.
The initiative was partly inspired by Jolie's film "In the Land of Blood and Honey", which dealt with sexual violence inflicted on a woman during Bosnia's 1992-95 war.
Jolie and Hague also laid flowers at a cemetery for Bosnian Muslim victims of the Srebrenica massacre, Europe's worst massacre since World War Two.
Bosnian Serb forces commanded by General Ratko Mladic killed around 8,000 Muslim men and boys after the U.N.-protected enclave fell in their hands in July 1995. Mladic is now on trial for genocide at the United Nations tribunal in The Hague.
More than 100,000 people, most of them civilians, were killed in the war between Bosnia's Serbs, Muslim Bosniaks and Croats. It is believed that around 20,000 women were raped.
"There can be no peace while women in conflict or post-conflict zones are raped with impunity," the Oscar-winning actress said in Sarajevo.
She said she hoped the initiative would help break down taboos about war rape.
Witnesses said Jolie cried while listening to victims in the town of Srebrenica.
"Our tradition is not to talk about the rape," said Munira Subasic, the head of the association of Srebrenica mothers.
"Many women have been through it but don't talk about it. That is why this visit is important, to show them they don't have to cope with it alone," Subasic said.
The initiative was partly inspired by Jolie's film "In the Land of Blood and Honey", which dealt with sexual violence inflicted on a woman during Bosnia's 1992-95 war.
Jolie and Hague also laid flowers at a cemetery for Bosnian Muslim victims of the Srebrenica massacre, Europe's worst massacre since World War Two.
Bosnian Serb forces commanded by General Ratko Mladic killed around 8,000 Muslim men and boys after the U.N.-protected enclave fell in their hands in July 1995. Mladic is now on trial for genocide at the United Nations tribunal in The Hague.
More than 100,000 people, most of them civilians, were killed in the war between Bosnia's Serbs, Muslim Bosniaks and Croats. It is believed that around 20,000 women were raped.
Desire, ice, and fire: 'Game of Thrones' returns for fourth season
Mystical ice creatures, fire-breathing dragons, and the people
caught in between return to the small screen come April 6, when HBO's
"Game of Thrones" unsheathes a fourth season that could see it crowned
as the cable network's most watched series in history.
The medieval fantasy drama's fan base has grown substantially over its first three seasons, with sizable followings among both men and women thanks to its wrenching interpersonal relationships, complex plotting, and, being HBO, plenty of sex and violence.
The show is based on the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series of novels by George R.R. Martin, of which five of an expected seven have been published. It takes place in the fictional world of Westeros, following more than two dozen regular characters amid a war for dominion between noble houses.
In addition to the squabbling between regions and families, the characters also face external threats, including dragons and the "White Walkers," nearly unkillable creatures from the far northern part of the world who can animate the dead.
The third season of the show climaxed with what is now
known as the "Red Wedding," where three primary characters were
treacherously murdered along with scores of others at a wedding feast.
For some shows, that might be difficult to top, but cast members said
this year's season will be even more dynamic, so as to not lose momentum
with a growing audience.
The medieval fantasy drama's fan base has grown substantially over its first three seasons, with sizable followings among both men and women thanks to its wrenching interpersonal relationships, complex plotting, and, being HBO, plenty of sex and violence.
The show is based on the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series of novels by George R.R. Martin, of which five of an expected seven have been published. It takes place in the fictional world of Westeros, following more than two dozen regular characters amid a war for dominion between noble houses.
In addition to the squabbling between regions and families, the characters also face external threats, including dragons and the "White Walkers," nearly unkillable creatures from the far northern part of the world who can animate the dead.
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Unsafe speed' caused car crash that killed Paul Walker: sheriff
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The fiery car accident last year that killed "Fast & Furious" actor Paul Walker was caused by excessive speed and not a mechanical failure, the Los Angeles County Sheriff said on Tuesday, concluding its almost four-month investigation.
The red Porsche Carrera GT sports car driven by Walker's friend Roger Rodas, 38, was traveling at speeds of 80 to 93 miles per hour (129 to 150 kilometers per hour) before Rodas lost control of the car and crashed into trees and a utility pole in Santa Clarita, California, northwest of Los Angeles.
"Investigators determined the cause of the fatal solo-vehicle collision was unsafe speed for the roadway conditions," Los Angeles County Sheriff Commander Mike Parker said in a statement.
Walker, 40, died from traumatic injuries and burns
while Rodas died of multiple traumatic injuries in the one-car crash on
November 30, the Los Angeles County coroner's office determined in January.
Walker was in the process of filming "Fast & Furious 7" at the time and production was halted a few days later.
No drugs or alcohol were found in the bodies of Walker and Rodas. The investigation determined that both were wearing seatbelts, and driver and passenger airbags had deployed.
Universal Pictures said in December that the release of the seventh installment in the highly lucrative franchise would be pushed back by nine months to April 2015. Walker will appear in the film.
The red Porsche Carrera GT sports car driven by Walker's friend Roger Rodas, 38, was traveling at speeds of 80 to 93 miles per hour (129 to 150 kilometers per hour) before Rodas lost control of the car and crashed into trees and a utility pole in Santa Clarita, California, northwest of Los Angeles.
"Investigators determined the cause of the fatal solo-vehicle collision was unsafe speed for the roadway conditions," Los Angeles County Sheriff Commander Mike Parker said in a statement.
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| U.S. actor Paul Walker presents a creation from Colcci's 2013/2014 summer collection during Sao Paulo Fashion Week in this March 21, 2013 file photo. REUTERS/Filipe Carvalho |
Walker was in the process of filming "Fast & Furious 7" at the time and production was halted a few days later.
No drugs or alcohol were found in the bodies of Walker and Rodas. The investigation determined that both were wearing seatbelts, and driver and passenger airbags had deployed.
Universal Pictures said in December that the release of the seventh installment in the highly lucrative franchise would be pushed back by nine months to April 2015. Walker will appear in the film.
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Cast member Kate Winslet poses with fans at the premiere of "Divergent" in Los Angeles
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| Cast member Kate Winslet poses with fans at the premiere of "Divergent" in Los Angeles, California, March 18, 2014. The movie opens in the U.S. on March 21. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni |
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Gospel singer Buchi almost loses house to fire accident
It is a sad weekend for gospel reggae singer Buchi Atuonwu,
whose home, a duplex located at 30b Olufunmilayo Street, Dideolu
Estate, Ogba, Lagos State was partially burnt by fire on Friday night.
The fire started in the mini studio
around 9:45PM, Friday, and quickly spread to parts of the living areas
upstairs, according to a source. The singer was away in Warri but his
family was home.
A NET reporter who visited Buchi’s residence noticed that normality had returned to the neighborhood by Saturday.
When NET spoke with Buchi’s wife, Jane, she declined saying anything about the fire incident. ’I like to spread good news and not bad news. I don’t want to say anything about this,’ she said.
Buchi, who transitioned from nightclub
singing to the choir in Christ Embassy Church, has won prestigious
awards including the AMEN Awards for Best in Gospel Category 1999, Faith
Awards 2000, POMP Awards 2002, TOMA Awards for Best Artiste, Reggae
Artiste and Gospel Album of the Year 2005, and Life Achievers’ Award
2008.
PSquare-Paul Okoye Traditional Wedding pictures
Paul Okoye married his longtime sweetheart and mother of his son, Anita Isama, on Saturday, March 22, 2014, at the Aztech Arcum event centre, Port Harcourt, in the presence of their families, well wishers and celebrity friends.
The traditional marriage ceremony was a
flamboyant affair which was held in grand style and the city of Port
Harcourt stood still for the event. Many celebrities from various
sections of the entertainment industry came to celebrate Paul and Anita,
who were evidently elated as they became husband and wife.
The impressive roll-call at the wedding included Nollywood actors Kanayo O. Kanayo, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Ejike Asiegbu, Uche Jombo, Funke Akindele and Ini Edo; prominent politicians like Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, and Minister of Tourism, Chief Edem Duke; broadcasters Bisi Olatilo and Kenny Ogungbe; and musicians D’banj, Banky W, Sound Sultan, Ice Prince, Pasuma, J Martins, Phyno and Darey.
The ceremony, which was anchored by an the lively Julius Agwu,
made history as the first ever Nigerian musician’s wedding to be aired
live on Television, as Hip TV was given exclusive rights to cover the
wedding. The after-party, which held at the same venue, saw all the
attending musicians mount the stage to perform some of their hit songs.
From the beautifully dressed guests to
the exquisitely decorated hall to the various meals and great
entertainment from the standby ‘Sharp Band‘, it was indeed a spectacular ceremony that will be remembered for quite some time.
Disney to buy YouTube network Maker Studios for $500 million
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Walt Disney Co has agreed to buy Maker Studios, one of YouTube's largest networks, for $500 million, a deal that makes Disney a major online video distributor and should help draw more teens into the Disney entertainment empire.
The price tag could rise to $950 million if Maker hits certain performance milestones, Disney said, confirming what a source told Reuters earlier on Monday.
Maker, founded in 2009, is one of the largest video production networks on Google Inc's YouTube. Its producers target the younger millennial generation, known for its high appetite for online video.
"This gives a presence online to reach the millennial group that is increasingly getting its video online," said Kevin Mayer, Disney executive vice president for corporate strategy. "And it gives us a lot of data to help promote our other businesses to them."
The deal will be "mildly dilutive" to earnings per share through fiscal 2017, Mayer said. Disney's fiscal year closes at the end of September.
Maker helps produce and distribute videos to more than 380 million subscribers worldwide across more than 55,000 channels. Its videos now collectively garner some 5.5 billion views every month, according to the source.
The company, whose backers include Time Warner Investments, Upfront Ventures and Greycroft Partners, is partners with PewDiePie, the online persona of 24 year-old video gamer Felix Kjellberg. Kjellberg has more than 25 million subscribers and is YouTube's single most-subscribed star.
"Short-form online video is growing at an astonishing pace and with Maker Studios, Disney will now be at the center of this dynamic industry," Disney CEO Bob Iger said in a statement.
The deal is expected to close in Disney's third fiscal quarter.
The price tag could rise to $950 million if Maker hits certain performance milestones, Disney said, confirming what a source told Reuters earlier on Monday.
Maker, founded in 2009, is one of the largest video production networks on Google Inc's YouTube. Its producers target the younger millennial generation, known for its high appetite for online video.
"This gives a presence online to reach the millennial group that is increasingly getting its video online," said Kevin Mayer, Disney executive vice president for corporate strategy. "And it gives us a lot of data to help promote our other businesses to them."
The deal will be "mildly dilutive" to earnings per share through fiscal 2017, Mayer said. Disney's fiscal year closes at the end of September.
Maker helps produce and distribute videos to more than 380 million subscribers worldwide across more than 55,000 channels. Its videos now collectively garner some 5.5 billion views every month, according to the source.
The company, whose backers include Time Warner Investments, Upfront Ventures and Greycroft Partners, is partners with PewDiePie, the online persona of 24 year-old video gamer Felix Kjellberg. Kjellberg has more than 25 million subscribers and is YouTube's single most-subscribed star.
"Short-form online video is growing at an astonishing pace and with Maker Studios, Disney will now be at the center of this dynamic industry," Disney CEO Bob Iger said in a statement.
The deal is expected to close in Disney's third fiscal quarter.
Saturday, March 22, 2014
SAVE THE DATE : APRIL 5TH 2014 DEE JONES WORSHIP REVOLUTION ALBUM RELEASE CONCERT
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| SAVE THE DATE : APRIL 5TH 2014 DEE JONES WORSHIP REVOLUTION ALBUM RELEASE CONCERT |
Friday, March 21, 2014
Media General To Buy LIN Media For $1.6 Billion
Media General Inc said on Friday it would buy LIN Media LLC for $1.6 billion to create the second largest local TV broadcast company in the United States.The deal, putting the combined company in reach of about 23 percent of U.S. TVhouseholds, is the latest in a frenzy of transactions involving local broadcast television.The lure is TV stations' ability to attract local ad dollars and fees collected from cable companies, which pay local TV stations to carry their signal.Gannett Co, Tribune Co and Sinclair Broadcast Group have all made big TVacquisitions in the last 10 months.Tribune became the largest local TV broadcaster after it bought Local TV Holdingsfor $2.73 billion last June. Gannett snapped up Belo Corp for $1.5 billion andSinclair Broadcast Group Inc agreed to acquire eight TV stations from the Allbritton family for $985 million.As part of the Media General deal, LIN shareholders will get $27.82 per share in stock and cash, based on Media General's trailing 20-day average price. At that price, the offer represents a premium of 29.5 percent to Lin's Thursday closing.Including LIN's debt of $968 million the deal is valued at approximately $2.6 billionShares of Media General, in which Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc held a stake of about 5 percent as of December, jumped 12.5 percent to $19.51 in early trading.LIN shares were trading at $27.98 on the New York Stock Exchange.LIN, which owns or operates 43 TV stations and seven digital channels in 23 markets across the country, was founded in 1961. Its initials stand for Louisville, Indianapolisand Nashville, the cities where it originally owned radio stations.The combined company will include 74 network affiliate stations across 46 markets.Media General is buying LIN as consolidation of the local TV broadcast industry has come under scrutiny from federal regulators.The Federal Communications Commission is set to vote on March 31 on new rules that would prohibit broadcast companies from controlling more than two TVstations in a market by sharing advertising sales staff.On Thursday, Sinclair proposed to sell some of its Allbritton stations to meet the FCC requirements."We are very mindful of the regulatory environment as we've been putting this transaction together," George Mahoney, Media General CEO, said on a call with investors."We are clear that certain stations will have to be swapped or sold," he said declining to go into more detail.Stewart Bryan, chairman of Media General, will remain chairman of the combined company, while LIN Media Chief Executive Vincent Sadusky will be the CEO.Bryan is the great grandson of the founder Joseph Bryan, who in 1903 formed the Richmond Times-Dispatch, one of the newspapers which would go on to become a part of Media General. The company became a TV broadcaster in 1955 when it launched WFLA-TV in Tampa, Florida.Media General exited the newspaper business in 2012, selling most of its newspapers to Berkshire Hathaway for $142 million. (http://r.reuters.com/maw77v)The company combined with privately held New Young Broadcasting Holding Co Inclast June.RBC Capital Markets will provide $1.6 billion in financing to Media General
Media General To Buy LIN Media For $1.6 Billion
Media General Inc said on Friday it would buy LIN Media LLC for $1.6 billion to create the second largest local TV broadcast company in the United States.The deal, putting the combined company in reach of about 23 percent of U.S. TVhouseholds, is the latest in a frenzy of transactions involving local broadcast television.The lure is TV stations' ability to attract local ad dollars and fees collected from cable companies, which pay local TV stations to carry their signal.Gannett Co, Tribune Co and Sinclair Broadcast Group have all made big TVacquisitions in the last 10 months.Tribune became the largest local TV broadcaster after it bought Local TV Holdingsfor $2.73 billion last June. Gannett snapped up Belo Corp for $1.5 billion andSinclair Broadcast Group Inc agreed to acquire eight TV stations from the Allbritton family for $985 million.As part of the Media General deal, LIN shareholders will get $27.82 per share in stock and cash, based on Media General's trailing 20-day average price. At that price, the offer represents a premium of 29.5 percent to Lin's Thursday closing.Including LIN's debt of $968 million the deal is valued at approximately $2.6 billionShares of Media General, in which Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc held a stake of about 5 percent as of December, jumped 12.5 percent to $19.51 in early trading.LIN shares were trading at $27.98 on the New York Stock Exchange.LIN, which owns or operates 43 TV stations and seven digital channels in 23 markets across the country, was founded in 1961. Its initials stand for Louisville, Indianapolisand Nashville, the cities where it originally owned radio stations.The combined company will include 74 network affiliate stations across 46 markets.Media General is buying LIN as consolidation of the local TV broadcast industry has come under scrutiny from federal regulators.The Federal Communications Commission is set to vote on March 31 on new rules that would prohibit broadcast companies from controlling more than two TVstations in a market by sharing advertising sales staff.On Thursday, Sinclair proposed to sell some of its Allbritton stations to meet the FCC requirements."We are very mindful of the regulatory environment as we've been putting this transaction together," George Mahoney, Media General CEO, said on a call with investors."We are clear that certain stations will have to be swapped or sold," he said declining to go into more detail.Stewart Bryan, chairman of Media General, will remain chairman of the combined company, while LIN Media Chief Executive Vincent Sadusky will be the CEO.Bryan is the great grandson of the founder Joseph Bryan, who in 1903 formed the Richmond Times-Dispatch, one of the newspapers which would go on to become a part of Media General. The company became a TV broadcaster in 1955 when it launched WFLA-TV in Tampa, Florida.Media General exited the newspaper business in 2012, selling most of its newspapers to Berkshire Hathaway for $142 million. (http://r.reuters.com/maw77v)The company combined with privately held New Young Broadcasting Holding Co Inclast June.RBC Capital Markets will provide $1.6 billion in financing to Media General
'Game Of Thrones' Screening Draws Throngs Of Fans To Brooklyn
Spring may finally be in the air, but the "Game of Thrones" fans who descended on New York's Barclays Center on Thursday evening know different: winter is coming.The fourth season of HBO's increasingly popular medieval fantasy-drama will premiere on April 6, but 7,000 people who bought tickets to the Brooklyn event were treated to an advance screening of the season's first episode, along with a brief panel discussion with several cast members and author George R.R. Martin, whose books form the basis for the television show.The show's plot combines a long war between several noble houses in Westeros, but with elements of magic and fantasy - including dragons and the undead - in the mix."Winter is coming" is the motto of the Stark House, which saw several of its members killed in the climax of the third season that aired in the spring of 2013. That event, known popularly as the "Red Wedding" among viewers, boosted interest in a show already known for surprising audiences with the unexpected demise of important characters.Fans swarmed the arena for a chance to sit on the Iron Throne, the king's seat in the fictional world of Westeros, where the series takes place, see costumes used in the show, and buy merchandise, including a recently released hip-hop album, "Catch theThrone," inspired by the series. The rapper Common appeared at the arena to perform his song "The Ladder," which appears on the soundtrack.The third season averaged 14.2 million viewers across all viewing platforms, according to HBO parent Time Warner, which makes it HBO's second-most-popular show of all time, trailing only.
"The Sopranos."With each season composed of just 10 episodes, it's been a long wait since the previous season's shocking end. Many attendees said they busied themselves with reading - or re-reading - the books, or revisiting old episodes."I've been rereading, and then really keeping up with what's going on with the show," said Jillian Tam, 21, who was in line to take pictures on the Iron Throne.Fans cited the show's ability to present nuanced characters that fall along the moral spectrum, and whose biggest struggles are often not with other-worldly creatures, but personal relationships with family members."Out of a lot of shows and movies, there is a lot more in the way of complex character-building," said Nadine Fentner, 23, of Queens, New York. "You can't say a lot of them are totally bad or totally good."Fentner and her companions were among those who came costumed as their favorite characters; the most popular costume among fans seemed to be of Daenerys Targaryen, also known as the "Mother of Dragons," who is played by Emilia Clarke and is on a long journey to try to conquer Westeros.The lines to sit on the thrones - there were four different ones in the arena concourse - were so long that ushers started cutting off the lines so fans would not miss the show.One fan, Mike Ross, 37, of Hoboken, New Jersey, had earlier decided not to wait in the lengthy queue, but instead found himself the lucky winner of a full-size replica of thethrone itself when Martin announced his ticket seat during the pre-show."I have no idea where I'm going to put it," he said. "We'll make a little room for it
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| Cast members Maisie Williams and Sophie Turner arrive for the season four premiere of the HBO series "Game of Thrones" in New York March 18, 2014 file photo. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson |
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Manchester United's Struggles Put Strain On Business Model
Manchester United won some much needed breathing space with its comeback in the Champions League on Wednesday after a series of losses on the pitch put pressure on the business model of one of the richest clubs in Europe.While loyalties in soccer don't evaporate overnight, an early sign that casual fans might be wavering is when selling merchandise becomes harder. A dwindling fan base in turn jeopardizes the lucrative sponsorships that drive revenue.United said last month that sales of merchandise to fans slipped by 400,000 pounds to 9.1 million pounds in the last three months of 2013 as the team struggled for consistency under new manager David Moyes."Man U's performance has definitely affected sales," said Hairul Amar, business development manager of Premier Football International, which sells soccer kits inSingapore."As the season progressed, we saw a dip. If we look at the sales of jerseys of Arsenal and Liverpool for example, in terms of the rate of sales, I can say they have overtaken Man U's demand currently," he added.The team is in seventh place in the 20-team Premier League and the Champions League is its last hope of winning a trophy this season.
United uses its base of 659 million followers to secure partnerships with companies covering everything from airlines to paint. It has a stellar cast of sponsors which helped drive commercial revenue to 152 million pounds ($252.7 million) in 2012-13, more than the club earned from either broadcasting or matchday income."We attract leading companies such as Chevrolet, Nike and Aon that want access and exposure to our community of followers and association with our brand," United, owned by the American Glazer family and listed in New York, say on their website.DEFIANT MOODIn January, United dropped to fourth in Deloitte's annual survey of team revenues, figures based on 2012-13 when the club won the Premier League. Real Madrid,Barcelona and Bayern made up the top three.A new television deal this season is likely to restore United to the top three, with the club forecasting revenue of 420-430 million pounds from 363 million last season.The club, which boasts more fans than European rivals Real Madrid or Barcelona, says sales remain strong at its Old Trafford stadium store and senses a mood of defiance among fans.Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward is confident that United's fan base will prove resilient and believes that the club has the business model in place to bounce back strongly."Some of our competitors haven't won the Premier League for a long time but are still selling a huge number of shirts out there globally," he told analysts last month in a dig at rivals like Liverpool and Arsenal.A new kit supply deal United is currently negotiating will be a barometer of the commercial appeal of the club.The club is talking to Nike and rival sportswear companies about a new kit supply deal to replace a long-standing agreement with the U.S. company that expires next year.United generated revenue of 38 million pounds from the Nike agreement in 2012-13, their last season under Alex Ferguson, who retired last May as Britain's most successful soccer manager and has proved such a hard act to follow.REBUILDING WORKThe club's forecasts for 2013-14 were based in part on reaching the last eight of theChampions League so the comeback win over Olympiakos Piraeus on Wednesday had extra importance.However, the real impact of this season's poor form will be felt next year when United risk missing out on a place in the Champions League, worth at least 35 million euros.United will also have to spend upwards of 100 million pounds this summer to strengthen an ageing squad that has failed to match domestic rivals Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool this year.It is timely that a new shirt sponsorship deal with GM's Chevrolet will begin in full from next season, generating a world record $559 million over seven years.United also have the option of raising additional cash through share sales after floating around 10 percent of the club in New York two years ago.The club still easily outscores English rivals in generating revenue and believes it can fund rebuilding out of cash flow.United got a vote of confidence from a surprise source when it was revealed last week that U.S. investment group Baron Capital had built up a stake of around 5.8 percent by buying up shares on the market.Baron describes itself as a long-term investor in growth businesses and its investment has helped support shares which traded at $15.84 on Thursday, valuing the club at around $2.6 billion.The mood around the club was perhaps best summed up by United fan Cesar Granda who watched the game in the Manchester bar in Manhattan with around 50 other New York-based supporters."We can breathe a little easier tonight," he said, a view certain to be echoed by manager Moyes, the Glazers and the club's commercial department
Texas Executes Aspiring Rapper For Murdering Studio Manager
Texas on Wednesday executed Ray Jasper, a 33-year-old aspiring rap musician convicted of stabbing to death a San Antonio music studio owner after slitting his throat so he could rob him of equipment.Texas, which executes more people than any other state in the United States, said Jasper died at 6:31 p.m. CDT (2331 GMT) after receiving a lethal injection at its death chamber in Huntsville."To my family, we are one. To my beautiful daughter, the best thing that ever happened to me. I love you endlessly. I am you and you are me forever,"
Jasper wrote in his last words, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice said in a statement.Jasper was convicted of the 1998 killing of David Alejandro, 33, who owned and operated a studio where musicians could be professionally recorded for a fee.Jasper and two friends recorded at the studio for about two hours and then took out knives to attack Alejandro."Jasper slashed Alejandro's throat from ear to ear, but did not kill him," the Texasattorney general's office said.After that, Jasper and an accomplice repeatedly stabbed Alejandro until he was dead. Jasper then covered the body with a sheet and proceeded to steal equipment from the studio valued at between $10,000 to $30,000, the office said.Jasper has said in a letter sent to the Gawker website that one of his accomplices killed Alejandro, not him."Under the Texas law of parties, they say it doesn't matter whether I killed the victim or not; I'm criminally responsible for someone else's conduct," he wrote to Gawker in February.The other accomplices were sentenced to life in prison.Jasper was the 11th person executed in the United States this year and the third inTexas.Including Jasper, Texas has executed 511 people since the U.S. Supreme Courtreinstated the death penalty in 1976, according to the Death Penalty Information Center, which monitors executions.
Oprah Gives Starbucks Tea Push A Celebrity Shot With Chai Drink
3/14 10:16:06 Murdoch's UK Arm Approved 'Industrial Scale' Phone-Hacking: Court
LONDON (Reuters) - Rupert Murdoch's British newspaper arm approved phone-hacking "on an industrial scale" at its top-selling Sunday tabloid, the paper's former royal editor told a London court on Thursday.Clive Goodman, who was jailed in 2007 for hacking phones of senior aides to Britain's royal family, made the allegation when asked why he had not raised the issue of bullying at the News of the World when he appealed against his dismissal following his conviction."That wasn't the grounds on which I was complaining about unfair dismissal," Goodman told the court. "The company had sanctioned phone-hacking on an industrial scale and they had dealt with me unfairly compared to other people."After his imprisonment, News Corp.'s British newspaper arm News International stated publicly and in parliament that phone-hacking was limited to Goodman, who they described as a rogue reporter, and a private detective, Glenn Mulcaire, who worked for the paper and was also jailed.However four journalists, including three senior editorial executives, have now admitted phone-hacking offences since a new police inquiry was launched in 2011. This ultimately led to the closure of the 168-year-old tabloid, rocked Murdoch's empire and sent ructions through Britain's establishment.Goodman and the paper's former editor Andy Coulson are on trial accused of making corrupt payments to police officers to obtain telephone directories of the royal household, charges they deny.Coulson, who edited the paper from 2003 to 2007 before later becoming Prime Minister David Cameron's media chief, is also accused of conspiracy to illegally intercept voicemails on mobile phones.He denies any knowledge of phone-hacking but under cross-examination from Coulson's lawyer, Goodman told the court that the editor knowingly approved payments to Mulcaire for his royal hacking project and knew of his own criminal behavior."Mr Coulson knew I was hacking them myself," he said.He had previously told the court Coulson was a bullying and aggressive editor and Coulson's lawyer Timothy Langdale queried why this had not formed part of his unfair dismissal claim."It was unfair because my ultimate boss Mr Coulson had sanctioned the project which had got me sent to prison," Goodman said.Mulcaire was one of the sources Goodman had sought cash payments for and the court was told that in total he had requested more than 215,000 pounds ($357,500) in cash for his contacts between 2001 and his arrest in mid-2006.Coulson's lawyer Timothy Langdale suggested Goodman had been pocketing the money himself, pointing out that between early 2004 and June 2006 he had not withdrawn any money from ATMs.Langdale also said some stories for which some of his sources had been paid had actually appeared in other publications a few days earlier.Goodman denied keeping any of the cash. The trial of Goodman, Coulson and five others continues. ($1 = 0.6014 British Pounds)
Friday, March 14, 2014
Another N35bn is Missing in Nigeria
More revelations by the House of
Representatives Committee on Public Accounts indicated on Thursday that
the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation could not account
for N35bn it collected from the Service Wide Vote within nine years.
While the records of the Budget Office
of the Federation showed that the OHSF received N52bn between 2004 and
2012, the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Remi Adelakun, admitted only N17.6bn.
The committee, which is chaired by Mr.
Solomon Olamilekan, insisted on Thursday that Adelakun must explain how
the N35bn was spent.
At Thursday’s session, the permanent
secretary and officials of the budget office had disagreed over how much
the latter released to the OHSF.
The records of the budget office showed
that in 2004, the OHSF received N2.7bn; N9.8m in 2005; N701.7m in 2006;
N896.3m in 2007; N5.3bn in 2008 and another N612.9m; and N70m in 2009.
For 2010, the figure was N17.6bn; in 2011, it was N13.6bn and N8.5bn in 2012.
However, the OHSF admitted the N17.6bn released in 2010.
Olamilekan ruled that the permanent
secretary must produce documents on how the balance of over N35bn was
utilised within two weeks.
In a separate case, the committee
directed the Central Bank of Nigeria to refund the N1.015bn it spent in
2007 to print 65 million ballot papers for that year’s presidential
election.
The committee stated that there were
“double payments” for the ballot papers, which it said the bank could
not explain adequately.
Although the Director, Corporate
Services, CBN, Mr. Dipo Fatokun, who represented the bank, denied the
alleged double payments, the committee insisted that the bank made
contradictory submissions.
Fatokun said, “There was no double
payment. When we first appeared before the committee, we did not check
our records very well and that was why we thought there were double
payments.
Boko Haram kill 69 in Katsina
At least 69 people have been killed in simultenous attacks on four villages in Katsina State.
Witnesses said the attackers, believed
to be Fulani herdsmen, rode motorcycles into the villages – Mararaban
Maigoro, Goran Mota and Ungwan Rimi – in broad daylight on Wednesday and
killed whoever they found.
A lawmaker from the state, Abdullahi Machika, told both the Agence France Presse and the British Broadcasting Corporation that 47 of the victims were murdered and buried in Mararraban Maigoro.
Machika added that seven were buried in Goran Mota, seven in Ungwan Rimi and eight in Maigoro.
Machika said, “As I speak, we are
still searching for dead bodies in the bushes. The attackers were not
thieves but killers. They did not steal anything; they came to kill
people. The people, who looked like Fulani herdsmen killed 69
villagers and burnt scores of houses between Tuesday and Wednesday.
“This (Thursday) morning, we picked dead
bodies in Faskari forest. In Mararaban Maigoro, we buried 47 people.
In Goran Mota, we buried seven people and in Ungwan Rimi, we buried
seven people. And in Maigoro, we buried eight people. Like I told you,
we are still searching for more bodies.
“For over one year, we have been
talking; people are saying it is about stealing and I am telling you it
is pure killing . It is almost the same thing that started in Borno,
Yobe and Adamawa states. There was no response from the police
authorities as they were busy providing for President Goodluck
Jonathan’s visit.”
But the state’s Police Commissioner, Hurdi Mohammed, who also confirmed the attacks, gave a lower casualty toll of 30.
He also said the violence was not
perpetrated by Boko Haram insurgents but by Fulani herdsmen, who had
been blamed for scores of deadly raids in the past.
The latest incident took place barely
24 hours after Fulani cattle rustlers attacked the convoy of the
Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, in Tse-Akenyi.
Suswam was on a fact-finding mission
following the continuous invasion of many communities on the
Daudu-Gbajimba road by herdsmen.
Fulani leaders have for years complained
about the loss of grazing land which is crucial to their livelihood,
with resentment between the herdsmen and their agrarian neighbours
rising over the past decade.
Most of the Fulani-linked violence has
been concentrated in the North-Central, where rivalries between mostly
Muslim herdsmen and mostly Christian farmers have helped fuel
violence.
• Jonathan gives military marching order
President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday
ordered the military high command to deploy troops in Rugu Forest with a
view to dislodging the killers.
He said a situation where insurgents had
turned the forest which was initially meant for economic purposes, to
their hideouts was not acceptable to his government.
Jonathan gave the order during a dinner
organised in his honour by the state government as part of activities
outlined for his two-day official visit to the state.
He said men of the Nigerian Armed Forces must comb the forest thoroughly and rid it of insurgents.
According to him, the forest borders states like Katsina, Zamfara, Niger, Kaduna and the neighbouring Niger Republic.
The President said, “It is unfortunate
that the forest meant for economic purposes has been turned to a hideout
and haven for insurgents who are launching attacks on Katsina and other
Northern states. This situation must not be allowed to continue. So men
of the armed forces must comb the forest and dislodge the insurgents.”
Jonathan also directed the National
Emergency Management Agency to ensure swift provision of relief
materials for victims in the affected communities.
Monday, March 10, 2014
Trader Operating 25 Bank Accounts Arrested By The Police
The Special Fraud Unit, Ikoyi, Lagos
State, has arrested a 39-year-old trader, Okonkwo Nwachukwu, for
allegedly opening multiple accounts with Zenith Bank, under different
identities.
The police said the action was meant to defraud financial institutions and unsuspecting members of the public.
A statement by the SFU Police Public
Relations Officer, DSP Ngozi Isintume-Agu, said the SFU Commissioner of
Police had received a petition from the bank on February 12, 2014.
It reads in part, “The petition alleged
that Nwachukwu had appeared at the Amuwo Odofin branch of Zenith Bank to
open a savings account and presented an already completed savings
account opening package with the name, Obiozor Ifeanyi, and identified
himself as such with a National Identity Card.
“While the Customer Service office was
checking the documents, Nwachukwu allegedly went to the Marketing Unit
and collected another savings account opening package and completed same
with another name, Ogueji Nnamdi. He allegedly returned to the Customer
Service Desk and presented same for account opening with another
National Identity Card bearing Ogueji Nnamdi.”
Nwachukwu’s attempt to open another
savings account within minutes with another identity was said to have
aroused the suspicion of the Customer Service Officer.
Upon searching the bank’s system with
Nwachukwu’s phone number, the customer service officer was said to have
discovered that he already possessed about 25 savings accounts at
various branches under different names.
The statement added, “It was further
alleged that Nwachukwu also operated a corporate account with number
1012000129, belonging to Chukon Integrated Limited, and he also
identified himself as Okonkwo Nwachukwu when he opened the said account.
“A native of Okija Ihiala LGA of Anambra
State, Nwachukwu is into cargo business and owns an office at Block 4,
Shop 169 A.P.T. Market Trade Fair, Lagos.”
PUNCH Metro gathered that Nwachukwu explained that the multiple accounts he opened was to enable him run his business successfully.
He claimed that the cashless policy of
the CBN did not permit him to withdraw a huge sum of money in one
account and as such, he was advised to open multiple accounts to spread
his money.
He added that he had N50,000 each in 15
different accounts, while the remaining ones had N20,000, N10,000 and
N5,000 respectively.
Nwachukwu also said the National
Identity Card and PHCN bills were forged by one Pepper who was at
large. The suspect came back from China on January 27, 2014 and started
the multiple account opening from February 5, to 7, 2014 when he was
apprehended.
SFU Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr.
Zubairu Muazu, commended the management of Zenith Bank for their
discovery and advised other banks to be at alert to such scammers “who
work as a syndicate to defraud members of the public.
“Investigation is ongoing to unravel more about the suspect’s motive behind the multiple account opening,” Isintume-Agu added.
400 Level student of Obafemi Awolowo University Ile Ife Nigeria commit Sucide After being Dumped by Girlfriend
The last note by a part-four law student
of Obafemi Awolowo University, who allegedly committed suicide, Dipo
Ige, was that his books should be buried with him.
Ige was said to have committed suicide
in his private hostel penultimate Saturday at Ashiefa, Ibadan Road,
Ile-Ife and was buried at his hometown in Iree, Osun State on Sunday.
While controversy still surrounds Ige’s
action, the deceased in the note also cautioned that his girlfriend
should not be blamed for his death.
It was gathered that Ige and his girlfriend had a misunderstanding before his death.
Also, in the note obtained by our correspondent, Ige said his valuables should be distributed to certain people.
Part of the note read, “As I plan to end
my life, please bury my books with me. My reason for this action is
best known to me. Please don’t blame my girlfriend (name withheld). She
knows nothing about this. Share my properties accordingly to…”
Fresh facts, however, emerged on Sunday
that Ige sent a message to his mum before his action. It was learnt that
due to network problem, the message did not get to the recipient until
over an hour after it was sent.
A close friend to Ige, who pleaded
anonymity narrated, “That day about 9pm, Ige sent a text message to his
mum. He told her to come to Ile-Ife immediately, adding that any delay
could mean that the mum would meet him dead.
“When she eventually got the message
around 10pm, she immediately alerted his close friend, Bola Okiji, to
check on him. Unfortunately, Okiji was not in Ile-Ife, he was at Ilesha.
“The mum sent another lady living close
to him to check him. The lady met Ige’s door locked. She peeped through
the key hole and saw Ige, who appeared lifeless. She screamed, broke the
door and raised the alarm, which attracted the neighbours.”
However, Okiji insisted that his friend hung himself because of “academics love.”
He said Ige was a brilliant student in second class upper grade before his death.
Saturday, March 8, 2014
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Aftermath of Boko Haram Attacks on Schools, Fed Closed down 5 Schools
Boko Haram main angenda is to eradicate the western education and prsently in Nigeria there fast actualizing there aims and purpose looking for ways to end the Boko Haram terror rain, closing down various schools across the northern states of Nigeria.
Following the killing of over 40 students of the Federal Government College in Yobe State by Boko Haram members, the Federal Government has shut five FG colleges in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa
The schools that were shut down are:
*Federal Government Girls College, Munguno
*Federal Science and Technical College, Lassa in Borno
*Federal Government College, Potiskum
*Federal Government College, Buni Yadi in Yobe
*Federal Science and Technical College, Michika, Adamawa.
Following the killing of over 40 students of the Federal Government College in Yobe State by Boko Haram members, the Federal Government has shut five FG colleges in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa
The schools that were shut down are:
*Federal Government Girls College, Munguno
*Federal Science and Technical College, Lassa in Borno
*Federal Government College, Potiskum
*Federal Government College, Buni Yadi in Yobe
*Federal Science and Technical College, Michika, Adamawa.
Minister of Education,
Nyesom Wike, made this known yesterday Wednesday March 5th. The schools
were closed because they were considered to be located 'within the high
security risk areas in the North.'. The schools will remain closed until
the
security situation in the states improves, while the teachers of the
affected
schools will be sent to new schools.
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