ABDULKARIM MUSA'S BLOG: September 2013

30/09/2013

Apple Passes Coca-Cola as Most Valuable Brand

APPLE is the new most valuable brand in the world, according to a closely followed annual report.

The report, to be released on Monday, is from Interbrand, a corporate identity and brand consulting company owned by the Omnicom Group that has been compiling what it calls the Best Global Brands report since 2000. The previous No. 1 brand, Coca-Cola, fell to No. 3.

Amanda Knox retrial begins without her (Kevin Casey/AFP)

The retrial of American Amanda Knox and her former Italian boyfriend for the 2007 murder of Meredith Kercher opened in Florence on Monday but neither of the accused were in court for the first hearing. Knox and Raffaele Sollecito were convicted in 2009 of killing 21-year-old British student Meredith Kercher in what was described as a drug-fuelled sexual assault.

A Ukranian couple’s inability to rein in their passion for each other ended in tragedy when a woman was killed by a train and her partner had his legs torn off during pre-dawn love-making on a railway track, police say.

She looks very young like a lady in her early 30s, but actress Kate Henshaw is 42 years old and she is single again after she was married for several years. Below is what she said about her collapsed marriage:

Kogi Deputy Gov survives road accident

Lokoja – Mr. Yomi Awoniyi, the Kogi Deputy Governor, on Sunday escaped unhurt in an accident which involved his convoy on the Abuja-Lokoja highway. A statement by his Press Secretary, Mr Michael Abu, said an escort van in the convoy ran into two stationary vehicles which were involved in an earlier accident.

A woman looks at a list of victims outside the Westgate Mall on 29 September 2013 in Nairobi

People light candles for the victims of the attack outside the Westgate Shopping Centre on 29 September 2013 in Nairobi, Kenya

The number of people unaccounted for after the Westgate shopping centre attack has gone down to 39 from 61, the Kenyan Red Cross says. The Kenyan Red Cross has said the number of missing in the Westgate shopping centre attack has gone down to 39 from an earlier figure of 61. Fourteen of the missing have been found alive and seven bodies were in the morgue, it said. The government has said 67 people were killed after al-Shabab militants stormed the Westgate centre in the capital, Nairobi, on 21 September.

*Jim Iyke restrained at the deliverance session

A video showing Nollywood bad boy Jim Iyke in a deliverance session at the Synagogue Church of all Nations has surfaced online. This is not a movie. The video captured the actor thrashing about and in fits as a group of men believed to be part of a prayer team at the church battled to restrain him while another continued to scream “Out!!” *Jim Iyke restrained at the deliverance session
The Synagogue church has posted a confirmation on their Facebook wall that indeed it was the actor who was delivered.

Olusegun Obasanjo

Members of the New Peoples Democratic Party have said former President Olusegun Obasanjo is not a member of the faction. It said the former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PDP was not directly or by proxy, linked to the faction of the ruling party. A statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the faction, Chief Chukwuemeka Eze in Abuja on Sunday, also cautioned against arresting or ridiculing the former President over his alleged closeness to the faction.

Olusanya, Balogun and Oluwatosin

Some robbery suspects engaged in a war of words on Thursday at the Lagos State Police Command headquarters. The suspects, who were recently arrested by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, traded blames over who caused their arrest. PUNCH Metro learnt that the suspects, Fatai Balogun, Wale Oluwatosin and Gbenga Olusanya, were arrested shortly after robbing a family in the Iju, Ishaga area of the state. Police authorities said after the robbery, the suspects shared the loot and went their separate ways.

President Goodluck Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday said contrary to reports making the rounds, he had never at anytime promised that he would not contest the 2015 presidential election. He also denied the claim by Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State that he signed an agreement with some Peoples Democratic Party governors for only one term in office. He challenged anybody with a copy of such agreement to produce it. Jonathan was fielding questions from a panel of journalists during the Presidential Media Chat in Abuja on Sunday.

Fuji star, Saheed Osupa down with strange illness

Saheed Osupa

Controversial Fuji artiste, Saheed Osupa is not enjoying the best of health at the moment, as he is currently down with an unknown ailment. Saturday Pilot exclusively gathered from close associates that the Oyo State born singer and Fuji music rave of the moment is not enjoying the best of health, and has so far not responded to a series of medical attention in the last few weeks.

In the early stages of his current situation, family, friends and fans speculated about a possible food poisoning. However, the story has since changed following a recent development where the artiste is now said to be developing a swollen stomach. His stomach is said to have swollen up to an embarrassing size and it’s b e c o m i n g a source of worry to the camp of the inspirational singer.

BBA Housemates Beverly Osu and Angelo Collins photographed kissing passionately at her birthday party at Aura night club last night....

Watch this funny motion picture.......

He still missed the empty net i guess this is worse than Yakubu Ayegbeni.....or what is your opinion?

Death toll hits 28 in Indonesia boat sinking....

At least 21 asylum-seekers, including seven children, have died after their boat capsized off Indonesia on its way to Australia. Indonesian police said the vessel was carrying asylum-seekers from several countries, including Lebanon, Jordan and Yemen.A helicopter and more than a dozen boats were being used on Saturday to search for about 35 people believed to be missing, but strong currents and high waves were hampering the operation.

A bomb explosion has killed at least 33 people and injured more than 80 in Pakistan's northwestern city of Peshawar, police and hospital officials said. Sunday's blast took place in the busy Kissa Khwani market in Peshawar -- gateway to the troubled tribal regions which are infested with Taliban and Al-Qaeda linked fighters. "The blast killed at least 33 people and wounded more than 80 others," top local administration official Sahebzada Muhammad Anis told AFP news agency.

Kenyan intelligence warned of Al-Shabaab threat before mall attack

Members of the Kenyan Sikh community cremate a woman and boy on September 25.

Mourners on Thursday, September 26, observe the body of Sridhar Natarajan, who was killed during the Westgate Shopping Mall attack in Nairobi, Kenya.

Members of the Kenyan Sikh community cremate a woman and boy on September 25.

Family members pay their last respects at the funeral of Mitul Amritlal Shah

at the Hindu Crematorium in Nairobi on September 26.

Family members light a funeral pyre at the Sikh funeral of Mitul Shah, the president of a football team in Kenya, in Nairobi on September 26.

A number of Kenya's Cabinet members and defense officials were warned about the possibility that the terror group Al-Shabaab was planning to carry out a Westgate-style attack a year before gunman stormed the Nairobi mall, according to several police and intelligence sources. The warnings were made by the country's National Intelligence Service as part of regular situational reports given to cabinet members, the inspector general of police, members of the National Security Advisory Council and military intelligence.

AS the military assault against the Boko Haram sect continues in some Northern states, members of the sect might have concluded plans to infiltrate the South-West to seek traditional medicine protection from gunshots. Sunday Tribune gathered that the last few weeks have seen large-scale efforts being made by people believed to be members of the sect to contact native doctors in Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State, especially Saki, for bulletproof charms.

Jonathan and Okonjo-Iweala

Feelers from some state governors at the weekend suggest that unless President Goodluck Jonathan issues an urgent directive to the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to release funds due to the 36 states, the President risks further isolation from this group of elected public officers. State governors, according to Sunday Vanguard investigations, are angry with the Federal Government over the non-remittance of their three months’ allocations in full by the Finance Ministry.

Christians in Peshawar pray for the bomb victims, 25 Sept

On Friday, at least 17 people were killed in the bombing of a bus
carrying government employees near Peshawar.

An explosion has ripped through a market in the north-western Pakistani city of Peshawar, leaving at least 33 dead and dozens wounded, officials say. Police said a bomb had exploded in the Kissa Khwani market, with shops and vehicles set alight. The blast comes a week after a double suicide bombing that killed at least 80 people at a church in the city.

governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu

One hundred and fifty persons were feared dead on Friday following a boat mishap in River Niger, close to Malilli village in the Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.

The accident happened at about 2 pm. While 42 bodies were recovered and confirmed dead, over 100 others are reportedly missing.

As at 10:30pm, no there was no survivor. Divers were still at the river looking for more victims.
The Public Relation Officer of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Mr. Ibrahim Hussaini, told our correspondent via the telephone that the incident occurred as the traders were returning from Malili village to their village, Tunga Illo, which is across the River Niger.

Frenchman kidnapped by JAMBS begs for freedom

A 63-year-old French national, Francis Collomp, an engineer with the French firm, Vergnet, who was kidnapped in Rimi in Katsina state on December 19 2012 , has pleaded for his release. His plea was shown in a video footage posted online by his abductors, Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Bildis-Sudan.

Agence France Presse reported that the abductee’s brother, Denis Collomp, said if the video was authentic, it would be the first video of Collomp to emerge since his abduction.

Bankole Wellington aka Banky W is a household name in the Nigerian music industry, having made his mark, making hit songs and grooming the likes of Wizkid, Skales, among others. He reveals, in this interview with IBUKUN AKINYEMI, what his fans and many other people don’t know about him.

What have you been up to recently?

I’ve been working hard, pretty much. On the music side, I’ve been working on collaborations with different artistes.I’ve recently completed really good songs for Black Magic, Sarkodie, MoCheddah, Lynxxx, Ketchup, Victoria Kimani and Vector. Internally (within EME), I’m contributing to Wizkid’s album, as well as projects for Skales, ShayDee and Niyola. Outside of all this, I’ve been giving speeches at various events, as well as working on a couple of potentially great movie projects.

Please, what's wrong with this photo---your comments are welcome!

8 Fake Corpers Sent To Prison

Nemesis has caught up with eight fake members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, after they were arrested, charged to court and ordered to be remanded in prison custody.

Chief Magistrate Ramatu Gulma of the Wuse Zone 2 Magistrates’ Court on Thursday also directed the Defence Counsel, Mrs Ijeoma Utchay, to apply formally for the bail of the accused, and adjourned the case till 25 November for hearing.

Credit: Olufamous.com

You hear some stories and you are like... Could this really be true? This is one of such stories:

An area known as Imeohia Mmaku in Awgu LGA of Enugu State recently came under the siege of robbers cum kidnappers, who invaded the community to perpetrate their heinous crime. On the fateful day, a priest was said to have led some notorious gang of robbers/kidnappers in the deadly operation.

While the operation lasted, the gang sealed off entrances and exits to the community.

*Survivors receiving treatment at the hospital.

Incidence of building collapse in Nigeria, particularly in Lagos State, has assumed an alarming dimension following its frequent occurrence. The recent one occurred Wednesday night in Tinubu area of Lagos, after a three-storey building on No 15, Alli Street, landed on a bungalow close to it, killing three persons: an 82 year-old man, a four-year-old child and a middle-aged businessman with many others injured.

Composite picture of Barack Obama (left) and Hassan Rouhani (right

US President Barack Obama speaking by phone to President Hassan Rouhani of Iran (27 September)

The White House released this photo of President Obama

speaking to President Rouhani of Iran.

US President Barack Obama has spoken by phone to Iran's Hassan Rouhani - the first such top-level conversation in more than 30 years. Mr Obama spoke of a "unique opportunity" to make progress with Iran's new leadership, amid a flurry of diplomacy over its nuclear programme. Earlier, Mr Rouhani said Iran was keen to reach a deal soon. He also asserted that Iran did not seek a nuclear bomb, as Western powers have long suspected. Describing meetings at the UN this week as a "first step", he said he believed the nuclear issue could be settled "within the not too distant future".

Apo massacre: Northern elders demand trial of killer squad

Professor-Ango-Abdullahi

Last Friday’s killing of ten artisans by security agents at the Gudu District of Abuja on suspicion of being Boko Haram terrorists yesterday drew flasks from the Northern Elders’ Forum, NEF, which described the attack as nothing but a premeditated murder of innocent poverty-stricken Nigerians.

The Secretary General of NEF, Prof Ango Abdullahi, in the first reaction of the group to the killings, said that the Department of State Security Service and all those involved in the shooting and killing of the artisans had committed murder and must be urgently brought to trial to account for the souls.

Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje

The Chairman of the New Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, has condemned the rape of the country’s economy by the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan administration. He said that despite claims to the contrary by the government in a futile bid to deceive Nigerians, the overwhelming evidence was that the Nigerian economy had been run aground and was now comatose. An online agency, Sahara reporters, said the assertions were contained in a statement issued by the faction in Abuja, and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Chukwuemeka Eze.

Yobo Joseph

The clamour for the recall of Super Eagles captain Joseph Yobo increased during the week with the President-General of the Nigeria Football and other Sports Supporters Club, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo adding his voice. Dr. Ladipo who spoke in Lagos pleaded with the Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi to reconsider dropping of Yobo from the team because of his contribution to the team in the past, adding that the captain may be used sparingly in matches.

Oyinlola

The quest for a solution to the festering crisis besetting the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party came under threat on Friday as an Abuja Federal High Court ordered the ruling party to replace the embattled former National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, with Prof. Wale Oladipo.

In a ruling on an application filed by Ogun State PDP, the Justice Abdul Kafarati-led court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission and the PDP to replace the name of Oyinlola as national secretary within three days.

Left to right: British Foreign Secretary William Hague and US Secretary of State John Kerry vote on a Syria resolution

The UN Security Council unanimously adopts a binding resolution to destroy Syria's chemical weapons, after experts agree a timetable for the process. The UN Security Council has unanimously adopted a binding resolution on ridding Syria of chemical weapons. At a session in New York, the 15-member body backed the draft document agreed earlier by Russia and the US.

No fewer than six people were feared dead, while six others were critically injured after a tipper driver rammed into roadside traders at old Ota Toll Gate in Ogun State. PUNCH Metro learnt that the accident, which happened around 11am on Thursday, was caused by brake failure. Eyewitnesses said the sand-filled tipper marked STOCKINGER STEYR and with number plate JJJ 551 XB, ran into the traders who were selling pepper, oil and bread among others.

My first set of concerns arose when I decided to study the law that established the EFCC.

And even though I am not a lawyer or anything, I was shocked to see that it was so badly drafted and it seemed dangerously tilted in the direction where it could be abused. I suggest every well meaning Nigerian takes a closer look at the EFCC Act. It contains provisions that clearly conflict with the Constitution, particularly those provisions that relate to due process.

credit:- Nairaland

Pandemonium broke out yesterday at Iyana Adeoyo, Ring Road area of Ibadan when an unidentified man in his thirties, attempted suicide by jumping in front of oncoming vehicle, after officers of the Oyo State commercial vehicle registration unit impounded his bike because his papers were fake.

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas has no regrets about the breakdown of his friendship with former mentor and Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho. Villas-Boas, 35, worked under Mourinho for seven years at Porto, Chelsea and Inter Milan and faces him for the first time when the Blues visit White Hart Lane on Saturday. I don't lose any sleep," he said. We had a great personal and professional relationship before. We don't have that now."

Angry Arik Air passengers yesterday, Thursday evening caused confusion at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja after they disembarked from an Arik Air flight that was meant to take them to the Margaret Ekpo Airport, Calabar from Abuja. The disgruntled passengers practically held passengers on other planes at the airport hostages as they blocked the runway of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, preventing planes from taking-off or landing.

Scientists are 95% certain that humans are the "dominant cause" of global warming since the 1950s, a landmark report says. The report by the UN's climate panel details the physical evidence behind climate change. On the ground, in the air, in the oceans, global warming is "unequivocal", it explained.

It adds that a pause in warming over the past 15 years is too short to reflect long-term trends.

The panel warns that continued emissions of greenhouse gases will cause further warming and changes in all aspects of the climate system. To contain these changes will require "substantial and sustained reductions of greenhouse gas emissions". After a week of intense negotiations in the Swedish capital, the summary for policymakers on the physical science of global warming has finally been released.

Gates waits to go onstage at the release of the Windows XP operating system August 24, 2001 in Redmond, Washington.

If you pressed Control-Alt-Delete to log on before reading this, Bill Gates says he's sorry.

The Microsoft founder says the triple-key login should have been made easier, à la Apple's Macs, but that a designer insisted on the more complicated step. "We could have had a single button. But the guy who did the IBM keyboard design didn't want to give us our single button," Gates said Saturday during a question-and-answer session to launch a Harvard University fund-raising campaign.

30/09/2013

29/09/2013

28/09/2013

27/09/2013