tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52109005989303823562023-11-16T05:25:12.357-08:00NIGERIAN TIMESSHARE PICTUREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11655196861146706362noreply@blogger.comBlogger979125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210900598930382356.post-542338773390907212011-05-25T06:02:00.000-07:002011-05-25T10:07:43.014-07:0020 World-Class Leaders Judge South Asia's Finest as the 2nd Annual Asian Awards 2011 Gets Underway20 World-Class Leaders Judge South Asia's Finest as the 2nd Annual Asian Awards 2011 Gets Underway<br /><br /><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0" id="player-single" width="320" height="320"><param name="movie" value="http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/mnr_lib/201002/players/player-single.swf?job=48914" /><param name="allowScriptAcess" value="sameDomain" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="flashvars" value="playlistpath=prne/asianawards/48914" /><embed src="http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/mnr_lib/201002/players/player-single.swf?job=48914" flashvars="playlistpath=/prne/asianawards/48914" quality="high" name="player-single" wmode="transparent" allowscriptaccess="sameDomain" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" width="320" height="320"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />LONDON, May 25 /PRNewswire/ — The Asian Awards 2011, in partnership with Lebara, has launched into its second year of celebrating the best in South Asian achievement. The House of Lords recently played host to 20 world-class leaders from the worlds of politics, business, sport, media, arts and technology - who gathered to choose winners from a short-list of inspirational luminaries and pioneers who have carved out their own places in history.<br /><br />"With so many exceptional people from the South Asian community short-listed for only 12 honours, it's vitally important that they are not only judged by a panel of their peers but that the process is robust, transparent and intellectually rigorous," said Chair of Judges Baroness Verma. "It's exciting to have 20 esteemed judges from such a variety of fields in one room, and to see such lively debate."<br /><br />The Asian Awards were an ambitious idea conceived by Paul Sagoo, founder of consultancy Lemon Group, and realised by co-founder Caroline Jackson Levy, Managing Director of UBM Awards. "Our goal was to celebrate the highest calibre of individuals from the Asian community across all spheres of activity," said Sagoo. "Last year's inaugural event was spectacular, and set the bar high for 2011. This year, we will take it a notch higher," added Jackson Levy. In 2010, the Asian Awards honoured some of the most inspiring people in the South Asian community - from record breaking cricketer Sachin Tendulkar to world famous composer A R Rahman to legendary business leader Ratan Tata.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgOxp0edXYiyePiXL8BmiDcaAh3jpht57t_JrIaPjXPgNfEwVuQQDuVCr3_LfTnLqqggbKxkV-mAFEG4ol9_X0GjydaumZBOSITDcMkpz0zzJwfyvAKS0w4FT5SOtumV3FHoTz0ian1JY/s1600/Asian+leaders.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgOxp0edXYiyePiXL8BmiDcaAh3jpht57t_JrIaPjXPgNfEwVuQQDuVCr3_LfTnLqqggbKxkV-mAFEG4ol9_X0GjydaumZBOSITDcMkpz0zzJwfyvAKS0w4FT5SOtumV3FHoTz0ian1JY/s400/Asian+leaders.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610641043210698146" /></a><br />* Paul Sagoo, MD, Lemon Group with Caroline Jackson Levy, MD, UBM Awards, Co-founders of the Asian Awards<br /><br />This year, judges brought their insight and expertise to panels for Business Leader, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, Public Servant and Social Entrepreneur of the Year to Outstanding Achievement in Music, Art & Design, Sport, Cinema, Television and Science.<br /><br />Business category judges included Surinder Arora, CEO of Arora Holdings; Kamel Hothi, Asian Markets Director, Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets; and Ratheesan Yoganathan, CEO of Lebara, returning as headline sponsor for the second year.<br /><br />"There are many entrepreneurs in the Asian community, so this year's winner must combine outstanding business acumen and achievement with the best leadership skills, innovation and drive," said Lebara CEO Yoganathan. "It's an honour to help choose the leaders that the Asian business community should look up to."<br /><br />"The Asian Awards celebrate the achievements of those who, in many cases, came here with nothing and are now adding to the bottom line of UK plc," said Hothi. "It's important for Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets to be involved in identifying the successful individuals who have made a difference globally and are inspiring others in the Asian community to do the same - and that is central to our decision to return as sponsor for a second year."<br /><br />Among the judges for the media and arts categories were Sonny Takhar, Head of Marketing at SYCO Entertainment and Sony award-winning DJ and broadcaster Nihal Athanayake. "There aren't enough opportunities to celebrate Asian talent at this level in this country in such a mainstream way," said Takhar, who praised The Asian Awards as a major platform for showcasing talent to a wider audience.<br /><br />"To be respected as an accolade you need outstanding people to receive it - and The Asian Awards have done that better than any other," added Nihal. "These awards are about recognising the massive contribution made by the Asian community to this country, and the world, but they're also about integration - because these nominees are citizens of countries outside Asia."<br /><br />"The Asian Awards are important because they inspire future generations to achieve great things," concluded Daljit Jagait, VIP Relationship Manager at Jaguar. As official automotive partner to the Awards, Jaguar will this year be providing XJs for chauffeur services to winners attending the Asian Awards.<br /><br />Winners of the 2011 Asian Awards will be announced at a glittering awards ceremony at The Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane, London on 18th October - and it promises to be a spectacular occasion. With some of the world's most high profile trailblazers honoured in 2010, excitement is already building around who the recipients might be for 2011. Visit www.theasianawards.com/videos-2011.php to watch interviews with the 2011 judges or www.theasianawards.com for a full list of 2010 winners as well as information on how to book tickets to the 2011 Awards.<br />Notes for Editors:<br /><br />The Asian Awards were an ambitious idea conceived by Paul Sagoo, founder of consultancy Lemon Group, and realised by co-founder Caroline Jackson Levy, Managing Director of UBM Awards. A celebration of excellence among the global Asian community, they were launched in 2010 to recognise and reward the outstanding achievements of individuals born in or with direct family origin from India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan or Bangladesh across all disciplines of life - from business to the arts, culture, sport and public service. The inaugural ceremony drew 1,200 of the most influential people in the Asian community and raised over £100,000 for its chosen charity, Save the Children.<br /><br />The Lebara Group, headline sponsor of The Asian Awards for the second year, was founded in 2001 by Rasiah Leon, Baskaran Kandiah and Ratheesan Yoganathan - who shared a vision to transform the international calling market, making it easier for migrant communities to stay in touch with friends and family back home. This year as Lebara celebrates its 10th anniversary it is one of the world's fastest growing mobile companies with more than 1,200 employees worldwide, operations in eight countries and revenues for 2009 totalling €371 million.<br /><br />For more information, interview requests and hi-res images, please contact:<br />Puja Vedi<br />LiveStyle Media<br />+44(0)7949 573065<br /><br />Henriette Svensen<br />Head of PR & Marketing<br />UBM Awards<br />Tel: +44 (0)207 234 8753 / +44 (0)7500 917 628<br />Email: henriette.svensen@ubm.com<br /><br /><br /><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>SHARE PICTUREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11655196861146706362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210900598930382356.post-78655168849206829372011-05-25T05:45:00.000-07:002011-05-25T10:07:43.014-07:00One-in-Four Workers Can't Afford to Take a Vacation<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHf7e261D97BP_00Q7h8ZGpyaapEz7qjEWGbUWf5parezYa54j6J1BP24M8XKHZMRZOCP_I9XQR7HxyqaeGFKnp5dK_8mGmHnVj8VerCsWWyo3ctAmwQaVe-xyx4H63_wDpofY4J3MAMQ/s1600/Vacations+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 399px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHf7e261D97BP_00Q7h8ZGpyaapEz7qjEWGbUWf5parezYa54j6J1BP24M8XKHZMRZOCP_I9XQR7HxyqaeGFKnp5dK_8mGmHnVj8VerCsWWyo3ctAmwQaVe-xyx4H63_wDpofY4J3MAMQ/s400/Vacations+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610636489977023666" /></a><br /><br />25 May 2011 11:00 Africa/Lagos<br /> <br /> <br />One-in-Four Workers Can't Afford to Take a Vacation, CareerBuilder Survey Finds<br />--30 Percent Work While on Vacation--<br /><br />PR Newswire<br /><br />CHICAGO, May 25, 2011<br /><br />CHICAGO, May 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As we approach the official kick-off to summer getaways with Memorial Day weekend, a recent study from CareerBuilder shows financial constraints and demanding work schedules have some workers foregoing vacation plans this year. Twenty-four percent of full-time workers reported they can't afford to take a vacation in 2011, up from 21 percent last year. Another 12 percent reported they can afford a vacation, but don't have plans to take one this year. More than 5,600 workers participated in the nationwide study, which was conducted from February 21 to March 10, 2011. <br /><br />INFOGRAPHIC: http://bit.ly/k0hS3X.<br /><br />While the majority of workers are planning some time away from work, three-in-ten plan to take the office with them on vacation. Thirty percent reported they will contact work while on vacation, up from 25 percent last year. <br /><br />"Taking advantage of vacation or paid-time-off benefits is critical not only to your well-being, but to your overall job performance," said Rosemary Haefner, Vice President of Human Resources at CareerBuilder. "Workers who set aside time for R&R tend to have less burnout, more creative energy and higher quality output. While financial challenges and heavy workloads may make vacation planning difficult, it's important to find time to recharge away or at home. It can ultimately translate into a more gratifying work experience that benefits you, your family and your employer."<br /><br />As the economy heals, more than one-third (36 percent) of workers reported that they feel more comfortable taking a vacation than they did in 2010. One-in-four (26 percent) are planning a vacation of 7 to 10 days while 11 percent expect to be gone 2 weeks or longer. Twenty-four percent are planning for 3 to 5 days or a weekend getaway.<br /><br />Haefner recommends the following tips to make the most of your time off:<br /><br /> 1. Give plenty of notice – 24 percent of workers reported they have had to work while their family went on vacation without them. Coordinate schedules with family and friends and co-workers as early in advance as possible, so you can plan vacations before/after big projects and events.<br /> 2. Don't take a guilt trip – 12 percent of workers reported they feel guilty that they're not at work while they're on vacation. Your vacation benefits are there for a reason. Enjoy yourself. The work will still be there when you return.<br /> 3. Ask about discounts – Many employers offer discounts on personal entertainment and travel for employees that may make vacation plans more affordable. Check out the company intranet or contact HR for more information.<br /> 4. Make sure you're covered – Buddy up with other co-workers to cross-train one another on responsibilities, upcoming deadlines, key contacts, where information is stored, etc. If your company may need to contact you for something while on vacation, make sure to set parameters on when you'll be available and stick to them.<br /> 5. Use 'em or lose 'em– 16 percent of workers reported they gave up vacation days in 2010 because they didn't have time to use them. If you can't take a number of days at once, consider taking a day here and there for extended weekends or mid-week breaks. <br /><br /><br />Survey Methodology<br /><br />This survey was conducted online within the U.S. by Harris Interactive© on behalf of CareerBuilder among 5,671 U.S. workers (employed full-time; not self-employed; non-government); ages 18 and over between February 21 and March 10, 2011 (percentages for some questions are based on a subset of U.S. employees, based on their responses to certain questions). With a pure probability sample of 5,671, one could say with a 95 percent probability that the overall results have a sampling error of +/- 1.30 percentage points. Sampling error for data from sub-samples is higher and varies. <br /><br />About CareerBuilder®<br /><br />CareerBuilder is the global leader in human capital solutions, helping companies target and attract their most important asset - their people. Its online career site, CareerBuilder.com®, is the largest in the United States with more than 24 million unique visitors, 1 million jobs and 40 million resumes. CareerBuilder works with the world's top employers, providing resources for everything from employment branding and data analysis to recruitment support. More than 9,000 websites, including 140 newspapers and broadband portals such as MSN and AOL, feature CareerBuilder's proprietary job search technology on their career sites. Owned by Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI), Tribune Company and The McClatchy Company (NYSE: MNI), CareerBuilder and its subsidiaries operate in the United States, Europe, Canada and Asia. For more information, visit www.careerbuilder.com.<br /><br />Media Contact:<br />Jennifer Grasz<br />773-527-1164<br />jennifer.grasz@careerbuilder.com<br />http://www.twitter.com/CareerBuilderPR<br /><br />SOURCE CareerBuilder<br /><br />Web Site: http://www.careerbuilder.com <br /><br /><br /><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>SHARE PICTUREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11655196861146706362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210900598930382356.post-88529014433873980022011-05-25T04:36:00.000-07:002011-05-25T10:07:43.014-07:00Windows Phone 7<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQFiAgyksAqJqi4bVknC2t-EuJL6ajD7dznfpSkuXrgOj6_SjW-tleGtjdaGCjfy8fKt3VdMB4XvQIXjQ5wyuA_dqgRE4zkXoNznRcZy-hx7GKpJ0KyxY7TcZn9qb0Vn01SmYBPJBzHoBU/s1600/Windows+Phone.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 216px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQFiAgyksAqJqi4bVknC2t-EuJL6ajD7dznfpSkuXrgOj6_SjW-tleGtjdaGCjfy8fKt3VdMB4XvQIXjQ5wyuA_dqgRE4zkXoNznRcZy-hx7GKpJ0KyxY7TcZn9qb0Vn01SmYBPJBzHoBU/s400/Windows+Phone.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610584212170416514" /></a><br /><br />24 May 2011 15:00 Africa/Lagos<br /><br /> <br />Microsoft Previews Next Release of Windows Phone<br />"Mango" to deliver smarter and easier communications, apps and Internet experiences and bring Windows Phone to more customers around the world.<br /><br />PR Newswire<br /><br />REDMOND, Wash., May 24, 2011<br /><br />REDMOND, Wash., May 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Microsoft Corp. today previewed the next major release of Windows Phone, code-named "Mango," through a series of media events around the world. "Mango" will deliver more than 500 new features to push the boundaries of the smartphone experience around communications, apps and the Internet. The "Mango" release will be available for free to Windows Phone 7 customers and is scheduled to ship on new phones beginning this fall. More details on device update timing will be provided closer to availability. Windows Phone will also add support for additional languages, expand access to apps by launching Windows Phone Marketplace in new countries, and partner with new OEMs to enable expansion to new markets.*<br /><br />(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO)<br /><br />"Seven months ago we started our mission to make smartphones smarter and easier for people to do more," said Andy Lees, president of the Mobile Communications Business at Microsoft. "With 'Mango,' Windows Phone takes a major step forward in redefining how people communicate and use apps and the Internet, giving you better results with less effort."<br /><br />Communications: Easier to Connect and Share<br /><br />The smartphone experience can be complicated by a sea of disconnected apps and accounts as people attempt to keep pace with all the ways they communicate — from calls, texts, email and instant messages (IM) to status updates, Tweets, check-ins, photo posting and tagging. To help people stay on top of that growing complexity, the "Mango" release organizes information around the person or group people want to interact with, not the app they have to use.<br /><br /> * Threads. Switch between text, Facebook chat and Windows Live Messenger within the same conversation.<br /> * Groups. Group contacts into personalized Live Tiles to see the latest status updates right from the Start Screen and quickly send a text, email or IM to the whole group.<br /> * Deeper social network integration. Twitter and LinkedIn feeds are now integrated into contact cards, and "Mango" includes built-in Facebook check-ins and new face detection software that makes it easier to quickly tag photos and post to the Web.<br /> * Linked inbox. See multiple email accounts in one linked inbox. Conversations are organized to make it easy to stay on top of the latest mail.<br /> * Hands-free messaging. Built-in voice-to-text and text-to-voice support enables hands-free texting or chatting.<br /><br /><br />A Smarter Approach to Apps<br /><br />Windows Phone will challenge the way people think about apps. Today their usefulness is measured by what can be done within the app, but Microsoft sees the promise of apps in how they can be integrated directly into the core experiences of the phone. In addition to making it easy to get timely notifications and updates from apps right from the Start Screen, the "Mango" release also will surface apps as part of search results and within Windows Phone Hubs. As a result, a useful app is more likely to be right there when needed.<br /><br /> * App Connect. By connecting apps to search results and deepening their integration with Windows Phone Hubs, including Music and Video and Pictures, "Mango" allows apps to be surfaced when and where they make sense.<br /> * Improved Live Tiles. Get real-time information from apps without having to open them. Live Tiles can be more dynamic and hold more information.<br /> * Multitasking. Quickly switch between apps in use and allow apps to run in the background, helping to preserve battery life and performance.<br /><br /><br />Taking the Internet Beyond the Browser<br /><br />In addition to including Internet Explorer, the "Mango release will connect the power of the Web to the unique capabilities of Windows Phones, such as location awareness, camera and access to apps, to present a way of viewing the Web that is more localized, actionable and relevant.<br /><br /> * Internet Explorer 9. A browser based on the powerful Internet Explorer 9 and including support for HTML5 and full hardware acceleration.<br /> * Local Scout. Provides hyper local search results and recommends nearby restaurants, shopping and activities in an easy-to-use guide.<br /> * Bing on Windows Phone. More ways to search the Web, including Bing Vision, Music Search and Voice so it's easy to discover and decide.<br /> * Quick Cards. When searching for a product, movie, event or place, see a quick summary of relevant information, including related apps.<br /><br /><br />Strengthening the Ecosystem<br /><br />The Windows Phone ecosystem has grown steadily since Windows Phone 7 first launched in October, with more than 17,000 apps currently available on Windows Phone Marketplace and Windows Phone handsets available from a range of partners worldwide, and Microsoft's recently announced partnership with Nokia. "Mango" will further expand and strengthen the Windows Phone ecosystem through new partnerships with Acer Inc., Fujitsu Ltd. and ZTE Corp., which today announced plans to deliver new Windows Phone devices in markets around the world. Furthermore, Microsoft announced it will support additional languages, including Brazilian Portuguese, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Greek, Hungarian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, and Swedish, and will greatly expand the list of countries where consumers have access to apps via Windows Phone Marketplace. As well, a beta release of the free Windows Phone Developer tools, which will be used to create the next generation of "Mango" apps and games, will be posted for public download to Microsoft's website within 24 hours of today's events. More information about what "Mango" means for developers, the tools and a link to the public download page is available at http://windowsteamblog.com/windows_phone/b/wpdev/archive/2011/05/24/developer-news-beta-mango-tools-available-today.aspx .<br /><br />Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.<br /><br />Some information relates to pre-released product that may be substantially modified before it's commercially released. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the information provided here.<br /><br />*Data plan required; carrier fees apply. Apps from Marketplace. Features and services vary by area, phone, carrier and service plan.<br /><br />.<br /><br />SOURCE Microsoft Corp.<br />NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft's Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/news/contactpr.mspx<br /><br />CONTACT: Rapid Response Team of Waggener Edstrom Worldwide, +1-503-443-7070, rrt@waggeneredstrom.com<br /><br />Web Site: http://www.microsoft.com<br /><br /><br /><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>SHARE PICTUREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11655196861146706362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210900598930382356.post-14037387146547382172011-05-25T01:42:00.000-07:002011-05-25T10:07:43.015-07:00Google celebrates Africa Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFBv-Tix-Mz86U47DHVkJDRz18UwyACfZ0XeKu1D69wrGRMQO5ArfI20pmjXtz2IGf_1dQgOjLL9n0kgu3K5geG76kB8LRstzDtzu19qtpwEH7vQEtorGhtmAZ7JXKS_OY27jD5oXPqm8/s1600/Google+africaday11-hp.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 99px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFBv-Tix-Mz86U47DHVkJDRz18UwyACfZ0XeKu1D69wrGRMQO5ArfI20pmjXtz2IGf_1dQgOjLL9n0kgu3K5geG76kB8LRstzDtzu19qtpwEH7vQEtorGhtmAZ7JXKS_OY27jD5oXPqm8/s400/Google+africaday11-hp.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610572704353588322" /></a><br /><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#00681C">Google celebrates Africa Day, </span></b></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black">the annual commemoration on May 25 of the 1963 founding of the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organisation_of_African_Unity" title="Organisation of African Unity" style="background-attachment:initial; background-origin: initial;background-clip: initial;background-color:initial; background-position:initial initial;background-repeat:initial initial"><span style="color:#0645AD">Organisation of African Unity</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>(OAU), when leaders of 30 of the 32 independent African states signed a founding charter in<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addis_Ababa" title="Addis Ababa" style="background-attachment:initial;background-origin: initial;background-clip: initial; background-color:initial;background-position:initial initial;background-repeat: initial initial"><span style="color:#0645AD">Addis Ababa</span></a>,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopia" title="Ethiopia" style="background-attachment: initial;background-origin: initial;background-clip: initial;background-color: initial;background-position:initial initial;background-repeat:initial initial"><span style="color:#0645AD">Ethiopia</span></a>.<span class="apple-converted-space"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";color:black">In 1991, the OAU established the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Economic_Community" title="African Economic Community" style="background-attachment:initial; background-origin: initial;background-clip: initial;background-color:initial; background-position:initial initial;background-repeat:initial initial"><span style="color:#0645AD">African Economic Community</span></a>, and in 2002 the OAU established its own successor, the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Union" title="African Union" style="background-attachment:initial;background-origin: initial;background-clip: initial; background-color:initial;background-position:initial initial;background-repeat: initial initial"><span style="color:#0645AD">African Union</span></a>. However, the name and date of Africa Day has been retained as a celebration of African unity.</span><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";color:#00681C"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><br /><br /><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>SHARE PICTUREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11655196861146706362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210900598930382356.post-38721942800814013562011-05-24T12:24:00.000-07:002011-05-25T10:07:43.015-07:00Nigerians in UK inspire British Author’s new book for ChildrenNigerians in UK inspire British Author’s new book for Children<br /><br />A new book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1456776401?ie=UTF8&tag=kissrose-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=1456776401">Tópé Arrives</a> is about a Nigerian orphan who was forced against his will to continue his life in England. It is a Nigerian story written by a new British author Wendy Hue who told me why she wrote this emotionally compelling children’s book that has been endorsed by <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/4523661/Damilola-Taylors-father-appointed-Gordon-Browns-knife-crime-czar.html">Richard Damilola</a>, the father of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Damilola_Taylor">Damilola Taylor</a>, the 10-year-old Nigerian child murdered on his way from Peckham Library on November 27, 2000, in south London in 2000. The book was on the long list of the <a href="http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/competitions/article2961368.ece">The Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis_o7YOq8NnKUfQ5YaRZIQ0-0dHMrR3HhQMBoX_7MgnaR2L8qSwLEFPqrRse1SBG41mBpXduQjOIJHYT1Pc6a5SiNIUOxaM_LsCBONyxylvVnv-Mf9EYAF3eeIyWj9CAV_2LCWd6np9_pZ/s1600/Tope+Arrives.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 253px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis_o7YOq8NnKUfQ5YaRZIQ0-0dHMrR3HhQMBoX_7MgnaR2L8qSwLEFPqrRse1SBG41mBpXduQjOIJHYT1Pc6a5SiNIUOxaM_LsCBONyxylvVnv-Mf9EYAF3eeIyWj9CAV_2LCWd6np9_pZ/s400/Tope+Arrives.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610359293234010898" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Tópé is suddenly orphaned and against his will he has to leave Nigeria. Worried about starting a new life in England, he feels he is an outsider in his new school. It is a time of tears and tussles. Will his nimble football skills and precious wooden boat somehow help him to carve out a new beginning? Will he ever again be able to believe in himself and drum in with the dundun drums his renewed sense of fun and pride.</span><br /><br />The book is specially for 7 - 9 year olds and already selected for Centre for Literacy and Primary Education book fair in London on the 24th June 2011. <br /><br />Wendy Hue has a lot to say on her book, how Nigerians she has known for years in the UK inspired her literary genius in the writing and her unique multiethnic family among other important facts of her colourful life.<br /> <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimvdmj9b_ilZ3B_DzmER2NYQ9rzrRPlYt6727VIjYmhHqO96KVDODIJYcflcgIEhKu5qC-D5mFYa0NsFFIClk4VcwKDiircyxxr-_c-_mBLAVrCXBHCEkGNLWxHXczzGQAu0YM5XQGSyl3/s1600/Wendy+Hue.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimvdmj9b_ilZ3B_DzmER2NYQ9rzrRPlYt6727VIjYmhHqO96KVDODIJYcflcgIEhKu5qC-D5mFYa0NsFFIClk4VcwKDiircyxxr-_c-_mBLAVrCXBHCEkGNLWxHXczzGQAu0YM5XQGSyl3/s400/Wendy+Hue.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610359299446387618" /></a><br /><br />'<span style="font-style:italic;">Tópé Arrives' is just one of many, many stories that I have written. <br />The reason I decided to move with 'Tópé first was because he kept getting a lot of interest from mainstream publishers and also a literary agent I had about 5 years ago, however he never quite got published by them. Then the manuscript was long listed in The Times/Chicken House 2011 competition and I thought 'you know what - let me take this project in to my own hands' as from what I can see there is a real close net of who decides what books get published and end up on our shelves for all of our children. Children of different ethnicities are dispersed around the globe now and I believe we can no longer think insular, but must think wider because of this. We also have 4th, 5th etc generations of children now who are born and reared in different countries to that of their mother, father, grandparents, great grandparents and so on.<br /> <br />I also believe there is still a real under-representation of books for 'all of our children', where they can all be the main protagonist, the hero, or the fairy queen etc. I do not think we are quite there as yet in terms of having books that represent the complement of ethnicities in many countries, due party I suppose to the migration of peoples from one part of the earth to another today.<br /> <br />In terms of writing 'Tópé Arrives' about another culture, I felt confident enough because I have many, many amazing and wonderful Nigerian friends and worked in Peckham, South London for over 20 years (where there is an enormous and wonderful Nigerian community) so became very familiar with Nigerian culture. As the book, which was originally written, but not edited at that stage, is for young readers I did not want to force too much information about Nigeria in the book. I just wanted that information to trickle through with a light stroke of a paint brush. I hope I have done justice to this.<br /> <br />I can also let you know that I worked with two (not even one) excellent editors, one in particular who is an expert on diversity in children's publishing - Laura Atkins and she worked tirelessly with me to polish up the manuscript. I also commissioned a fabulous illustrator who has one some really wonderful line drawings inside and a beautiful front cover. Zara Slattery is the illustrator. All of this has and getting the book published has been at a total cost to me, but I am passionate about my writing and have persevered. I cannot wait for book number two to come out now, which is 'Ria - Sisterly Plaits' about a young black British Caribbean girl. I am of Caribbean ethnicity, but this story will not be autobiographical.<br /> <br />I have just left working in local government in London after almost 22 years and had been there for so long. I am a part-time university student in my final year, but finish next year as I have been also working fulltime. This year I have studied 'Global Politics and Postcolonial Worlds' and 'Cultures of Consumption'. As a family we also regularly have young children from all parts of the globe come and stay in our home on short stays when they are visiting England. I am a married mother of three children, my son Marlon is 23 and daughters, Hannah 19 and Emily 13. My father (who is part Chinese) came to this country (UK) when he was enlisted to fight in World War II for the British Royal Air Force when the Caribbean as were many other countries, part of the Commonwealth. He and my mother who came here in the 1950s remained thereafter. With my father's work we always moved around and lived for 3 years in Cyprus in the Mediterranean when I was growing up and also I was born in Germany because of this, amongst many, many places in the UK. As a family (I have 6 wonderful brothers and two lovely sisters) we have a multiplicity of ethnicities as we have African heritage in us as well as Scottish, Irish, Chinese and so on... - very global - one world!<br /> <br />On my literary ambitions, I have already paid with a publishing company for book number 2, but am now wondering if I should just try and set up my own publishing company to move with books thereafter. I am keen for far more representation and transparency in our world of children's books globally, and all of my books embrace inclusion and diversity...</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima</span><br /> <br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1456776401?ie=UTF8&tag=kissrose-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=1456776401">Click here to order "Tópé Arrives" from Amazon</a>.<br /><br /><br /><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>SHARE PICTUREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11655196861146706362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210900598930382356.post-76162027122848668162011-05-23T07:51:00.000-07:002011-05-25T10:07:43.015-07:00Microsoft Announces Finalists for Global Student Technology Competition<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxokRPRfCIjDErVh1Uq8uEmYtpDCNmTpUKhMCRZGj-otSOeO8A3xJ8x0T135tlSbsKD7dMeLI2JQLjihWufh4Iezb8hCWN5kIGGQbNZ2vcu5v_dF_E0VPyD7gQoyb2DuPIMMLgiFUhjlde/s1600/2011-imagine-hero.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 284px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxokRPRfCIjDErVh1Uq8uEmYtpDCNmTpUKhMCRZGj-otSOeO8A3xJ8x0T135tlSbsKD7dMeLI2JQLjihWufh4Iezb8hCWN5kIGGQbNZ2vcu5v_dF_E0VPyD7gQoyb2DuPIMMLgiFUhjlde/s400/2011-imagine-hero.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609926282207020034" /></a><br /><br />23 May 2011 13:00 Africa/Lagos<br /><br /> <br />Microsoft Announces Finalists for Global Student Technology Competition<br /><br />More than 400 students invited to showcase their technology to solve the world's toughest problems at Microsoft Imagine Cup 2011 Worldwide Finals in New York.<br /><br />PR Newswire<br /><br />NEW YORK, May 23, 2011<br /><br />NEW YORK, May 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- In July, more than 400 of the brightest young minds from around the world will travel to New York to showcase their innovative ideas for using technology to solve the world's toughest problems. As the winners of regional, national and online Imagine Cup competitions, these high school and university students represent the pinnacle of innovation, creativity and entrepreneurialism from 73 countries and regions around the globe.<br /><br />(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO)<br /><br />This year, more than 350,000 students from 183 countries registered for Microsoft Corp.'s Imagine Cup, the world's premier student technology competition. The 124 student teams secured their places at the July 8–13 Worldwide Finals event, where they will demonstrate technological advancements in problem-solving and compete for international recognition and $215,000 (U.S.) in cash prizes in categories including Software Design, Embedded Development, Game Design, Digital Media, Windows Phone 7, IT Challenge, Interoperability Challenge, Windows 7 Touch Challenge and the Orchard Challenge. The students' projects tackle serious humanitarian issues, often inspired by the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, such as the environment, health, accessibility and education.<br /><br />"Some of history's greatest inventions were created by students. With the Microsoft Imagine Cup, students apply their innovative thinking to real-world causes in order to generate the future's greatest inventions as well," said S. Somasegar, senior vice president, Developer Division at Microsoft. "To see young innovators and entrepreneurs harness their creativity and talent to benefit a greater good is absolutely inspiring."<br /><br />Last year, Team GINA from the Czech Republic was among the finalist teams that competed at the Imagine Cup 2010 Worldwide Finals in Warsaw, Poland. The team developed GINA (Geographical INformation Assistant), an innovative software system for mobile equipment that provides navigation in difficult terrain, helps coordinate rescue teams, and enables the efficient exchange of geographical information. Together with the humanitarian organization Hand for Help Europe o.s. and its partners, the GINA system has been deployed in Haiti to track the progress of the cholera epidemic, and recently has been helping rescue workers in Japan monitor areas affected by the recent earthquake and tsunami that devastated the country.<br /><br />"Technology has tremendous potential to solve humanitarian problems, and the Imagine Cup gave me a platform to share my ideas for making the world a better place," said Team GINA member Zbynek Poulicek. "The Imagine Cup was also a launching pad to start my own business and have an impact in places like Haiti and Japan."<br /><br />More information about the GINA system is available at http://www.ginasystem.com.<br /><br />2011 marks the first time that the Imagine Cup Worldwide Finals event, now in its ninth year, will take place in the United States. Although the primary focus of the gathering is the competition, the finalist teams will also have opportunities to attend special training sessions, meet peers from around the world, and participate in volunteer and cultural activities while in New York. The final event of the competition, the Imagine Cup World Festival and Awards Ceremony, will take place on Wednesday, July 13.<br /><br /><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4620997">Click here to see the worldwide finalist teams</a>:<div><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p><strong>Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time <o:p></o:p></strong></p> <p><strong>23 May 2011</strong> </p> <p>13:00 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4620956">Global Payout Announces Launch of Domestic and International eWallet Accounts</a> </p> <!-- End Include --> <p>13:00 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4620997">Microsoft Announces Finalists for Global Student Technology Competition</a> </p> <p><strong>22 May 2011</strong> </p> <p>12:59 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4620579">Sheikh Fahad Al Salem Al Ali Al Sabah Gathers World Leaders for a Forum to Discuss Advancing Individual Freedoms</a> </p> <p><strong>20 May 2011</strong> </p> <p>20:37 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4619722">25 African Photographers compete in Spain for Photoafrica awards</a> </p> <!-- End Include --> <p>14:39 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4619540">2nd AFRICA-INDIA FORUM SUMMIT / Shared Vision at the Center of Second Africa- India Forum Summit</a> </p> <!-- End Include --> <p>14:31 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4619526">UN Secretary-General Appoints Margaret Vogt of Nigeria as his Special Representative to the Central African Republic and Head of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office</a> </p> <!-- End Include --> <p><strong>19 May 2011</strong> </p> <p>17:40 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4618423">List of accredited media and organizations for the African Development Bank Pre-Annual Meetings Virtual Press Conference held on Thursday, 19 May from 3 – 4 p.m. in Tunis.</a><span style="font-size:20.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=4620949">63% of Americans are Cutting Back Due to Rising Gas Prices</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=4620887">The US Economy Will Receive A Huge Boost From Tourism Dollars If The Gas Prices Fall As Predicted</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=4620882">Toyota Back in 1st Place, Honda Drops to 2nd, Ford Maintains 3rd, While GM and Chrysler Continue to Improve in Annual Automaker-Supplier Working Relations Rankings</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=4620729">Savings Hit by Job Insecurity</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=4618847">Twenty-Somethings Top Online Friends' League Table</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?packageid=1031157">Obama Middle East Address</a></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?packageid=1030777">Southeastern Floods & Tornadoes</a></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>SHARE PICTUREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11655196861146706362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210900598930382356.post-2431641549047427792011-05-23T06:20:00.000-07:002011-05-25T10:07:43.015-07:00Justin Bieber and Eminem top 2011 Billboard Music Awards<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlZZJUisHXxZ6cvrSKQYdduPAj4IQu1U6L6Rb2rfYTcPd4CKbIyLcNfkWvvzm61hetqEQ5VZ-S_OeDKgPOXufdYjjJMe9zTUPWfk9hPkoKpZrU9BjMd9WjAmjbNT1q1AGlm1OfMq7iluc/s1600/2011+Bilboard+Awards.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlZZJUisHXxZ6cvrSKQYdduPAj4IQu1U6L6Rb2rfYTcPd4CKbIyLcNfkWvvzm61hetqEQ5VZ-S_OeDKgPOXufdYjjJMe9zTUPWfk9hPkoKpZrU9BjMd9WjAmjbNT1q1AGlm1OfMq7iluc/s400/2011+Bilboard+Awards.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609911422443884898" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX3Ia20-Hl3vs5NgBvA2SV8Bpej0PYPYf8dKdjksGVG3XgVe3u4BBnMtzbjWbf6ank5U18YwsUH-Lg4XDbjBYL0YWu6UBnOYkHG1ymoe_baIOc64U3QGB7gKxpXLPlo2SVk-DhdW1sKVs/s1600/Justin-bieber-show-bbma.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX3Ia20-Hl3vs5NgBvA2SV8Bpej0PYPYf8dKdjksGVG3XgVe3u4BBnMtzbjWbf6ank5U18YwsUH-Lg4XDbjBYL0YWu6UBnOYkHG1ymoe_baIOc64U3QGB7gKxpXLPlo2SVk-DhdW1sKVs/s400/Justin-bieber-show-bbma.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609911445398796098" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxlLzDoPCQxHYCKfMWnihHXXxS3paVtdgAvttXXQOK0p-k6di986HtLov35GZO2w3xZW6P0asPgLC9HdmIe-J2-vRswf2cyfe5crCMo2aIDJ1LoYAlE-mtJBDaaWWoqa_gupMxLMeGA14/s1600/Justin+and+girlfriend.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 332px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxlLzDoPCQxHYCKfMWnihHXXxS3paVtdgAvttXXQOK0p-k6di986HtLov35GZO2w3xZW6P0asPgLC9HdmIe-J2-vRswf2cyfe5crCMo2aIDJ1LoYAlE-mtJBDaaWWoqa_gupMxLMeGA14/s400/Justin+and+girlfriend.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609911441044977026" /></a><br /><strong>Justin Bieber and his girlfriend Selena Gomez looked ravishing in a little black cut out dress</strong><br /><br />The glitz and razzmatazz of the <a href="http://www.festival-cannes.com/en.html">64th Cannes Film Festival</a> took all my attention away from the <a hef=http://www.billboard.com/features/bb-1005122862.story#/bbma/photogalleries/2011-billboard-music-awards-the-show-1005196572.story>2011 Billboard Music Awards</a> with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Bieber">Justin Bieber</a> smooching his darling <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selena_Gomez">Selena Gomez</a> in full glare of all the lights and excited audience. Well since she removed her Purity Ring last year your guess is as good as mine on her <a href="http://www.thehothits.com/news/21678/has-selena-gomez-had-sex-with-justin-bieber?-the-answer-may-shock-you!">virginity</a>. Her lover boy Bieber dazzled her with six awards he won last night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. He won the Digital Artist of the Year, Fan Favourite of the Year, Top Social Artist, Top Streaming Artist, Top Pop Album and Top Pop Album.<br /><br />Eminem also won six awards for the Top Artist, Top Male Artist, Top Billboard 200 Albums, Top Rap Artist, Top Rap Song and Top Rap Album. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMMlj9eXdGKthNjXRz6p-mDC1jAK_2vponFJpcen20-DFwp_14aJYyniQXMd9ZDkyuSHuSkPJLGZgaDleauXR46CoorS49GkJmmFZJXuO3Pz3bjVm6cxeUmOPpywPyNCziVEj0MEl6uw/s1600/fergie-red-carpet-bbmas-.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMMlj9eXdGKthNjXRz6p-mDC1jAK_2vponFJpcen20-DFwp_14aJYyniQXMd9ZDkyuSHuSkPJLGZgaDleauXR46CoorS49GkJmmFZJXuO3Pz3bjVm6cxeUmOPpywPyNCziVEj0MEl6uw/s400/fergie-red-carpet-bbmas-.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609911431357736450" /></a><br />Fergie <br /><br />Katy Perry, Rihanna and Shakira won two gongs each and the Pop Diva Beyonce Knowles was given a Millennium Award to honour her for her career achievements so far.<br /><br />46 award categories are based on Billboard data, which measures radio airplay, streaming data, social media consumption and tour grosses tracked by Billboard Boxscore.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL3mhLLGfw_F9EflgjkwKvEgW-Go1JxIOC8FXDuWQkaPVcSIOQTdcynv8Zi5h3BZ3FNthV75-8Bm17jmBkPaCQtnLBY4knyxZGhGilbi4qqS3YZqzI6DdJ-xwR8F3-1B0JE0x1TpQXhmM/s1600/beyonce-2-show-bbma-2011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL3mhLLGfw_F9EflgjkwKvEgW-Go1JxIOC8FXDuWQkaPVcSIOQTdcynv8Zi5h3BZ3FNthV75-8Bm17jmBkPaCQtnLBY4knyxZGhGilbi4qqS3YZqzI6DdJ-xwR8F3-1B0JE0x1TpQXhmM/s400/beyonce-2-show-bbma-2011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609911424561588034" /></a><br />Beyonce<br /><br /><strong>The full list of winners of the 2011 Billboard Awards</strong><br /><br />Top Artist of the Year: Eminem<br /><br />Top Hot 100 Song: Taio Cruz - Dynamite<br /><br />Top Billboard 200 Album: Eminem - Recovery<br /><br />Top New Artist: Justin Bieber<br /><br />Top Touring Artist: U2<br /><br />Top Duo/group: The Black Eyed Peas<br /><br />Top Country Album: Taylor Swift - Speak Now<br /><br />Top Rap Album: Eminem - Recovery<br /><br />Top Rock Album: Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More<br /><br />Top Social Artist: Justin Bieber<br /><br />Top Digital Song: Taio Cruz - Dynamite<br /><br />Top Radio Song: Bruno Mars - Just The Way You Are<br /><br />Top Streaming Song (Audio): Nelly - Just A Dream<br /><br />Top Streaming Song (Video): Justin Bieber feat. Ludacris - Baby<br /><br />Top Billboard 200 Artist: Taylor Swift<br /><br />Top Hot 100 Artist: Katy Perry<br /><br />Top Digital Songs Artist: Katy Perry<br /><br />Top Radio Songs Artist: Rihanna<br /><br />Top Streaming Artist: Justin Bieber<br /><br />Top Digital Media Artist: Justin Bieber<br /><br />Top Male Artist: Eminem<br /><br />Top Female Artist: Rihanna<br /><br />Top Rap Artist: Eminem<br /><br />Top Pop Artist: Lady Gaga<br /><br />Top R&B Artist: Usher<br />Billboard Music Awards 2011<br /><br />Top Rock Artist: Train<br /><br />Top Alternative Artist: Mumford & Sons<br /><br />Top Country Artist: Taylor Swift<br /><br />Top Latin Artist: Shakira<br /><br />Top Dance Artist: Lady Gaga<br /><br />Top Christian Artist: Chris Tomlin<br /><br />Top Pop Song: Taio Cruz - Dynamite<br /><br />Top R&B Song: Usher feat Will.I.Am - OMG<br /><br />Top Rap Song: Eminem feat Rihanna - I Love The Way You Lie<br /><br />Top Country Song: Lady Antebellum - Need You Now<br /><br />Top Rock Song: Train - Hey Soul Sister<br /><br />Top Alternative Song: Neon Trees - Animal<br /><br />Top Latin Song: Shakira - Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)<br /><br />Top Dance Song: Edward Maya &Vika Jigulina - Stereo Love<br /><br />Top Christian Song: Chris Tomlin - Our God<br /><br />Top Pop Album: Justin Bieber - My World 2.0<br /><br />Best R&B Album: Usher - Raymond V Raymond<br /><br />Top Alternative Album: Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More<br /><br />Top Latin Album: Enrique Iglesias - Euphoria<br /><br />Top Dance/Electronic Album: Lady Gaga - The Fame<br /><br />Top Christian Album: Skillet - Awake<br /><br />Viral Innovator of the Year: Cee Lo Green<br /><br />Icon Award: Neil Diamond<br /><br />Millennium Artist Award: Beyonce<br /><br /><br /><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>SHARE PICTUREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11655196861146706362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210900598930382356.post-9158738360929511242011-05-23T05:23:00.000-07:002011-05-25T10:07:43.015-07:00The Tree of Life wins Palme d'Or at 2011 Cannes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkRSqbC35Gu4D-GTavGay9otLsUCsNPL7hYjQTFrVMc3L_mqgQ9i0s19rlz1Zo-iyEgnmO-FjbdAzMGHuL-rVFehUn22qDyvQK4JU16d-Dz1oMBgSIexEFWtg3tzGtuGc4hZ8JThtcbwdC/s1600/2011+Palme+d%2527Or+winner.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkRSqbC35Gu4D-GTavGay9otLsUCsNPL7hYjQTFrVMc3L_mqgQ9i0s19rlz1Zo-iyEgnmO-FjbdAzMGHuL-rVFehUn22qDyvQK4JU16d-Dz1oMBgSIexEFWtg3tzGtuGc4hZ8JThtcbwdC/s400/2011+Palme+d%2527Or+winner.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609884593219325058" /></a><br />Jury President Robert de Niro (L) shakes hands with producer Bill Pohlad (R) who receives the Palme d'Or award for the film ''The Tree of Life'', by director Terrence Malick, as they pose with Camera d'Or award winner director Pablo Giorgelli (2nd L) during the closing ceremony of the 64th Cannes Film Festival, May 22, 2011.<br />Credit: Reuters/Eric Gaillard.<br /><br />Sunday evening, American director Terrence Malick’s <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tree_of_Life_(film)">The Tree of Life</a> won the prestigious Palme d’Or of the 64th <a href="http://www.festival-cannes.fr/en.html">Cannes Film Festival</a>.<br /><br />Provocative Danish director Lars Von Trier who was banned from the Cannes for his controversial comments that portrayed him as an apologist of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi proved that he could not be ignored as his apocalyptic film "Melancholia" got the Best Actress award for American actress <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirsten_Dunst">Kirsten Dunst</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEx2YjeHo2QMVszXVPDAHbNQjoWtm9W3WEQGQ3ApLhRCSVqWaKUheGVlEUJfPwQ9SZNl3keOguGgDNGO4z8OCNbnaAIY__dHj7YIQMkSwtBhYqUHfqdPlAzoN1cSvKGfVnDrzpxFW_ePJm/s1600/Kirsten+Dunst+2011+Cannes.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 242px; height: 350px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEx2YjeHo2QMVszXVPDAHbNQjoWtm9W3WEQGQ3ApLhRCSVqWaKUheGVlEUJfPwQ9SZNl3keOguGgDNGO4z8OCNbnaAIY__dHj7YIQMkSwtBhYqUHfqdPlAzoN1cSvKGfVnDrzpxFW_ePJm/s400/Kirsten+Dunst+2011+Cannes.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609884592750938306" /></a><br />CANNES, FRANCE – MAY 22: Actress Kirsten Dunst accepts her award for Best Actress at the Closing Ceremony at the Palais des Festivals during the 64th Cannes Film Festival on May 22, 2011 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)<br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in"><span style="color:black">"<em>What a week! My thanks to the Jury, this is a real honour. I'm grateful to the Festival for keeping the film in Competition. And I'm grateful to Lars Von Trier for letting me play the role with such freedom.</em>," said the excited Kirsten Dunst who is famous for her <span class="apple-style-span">romantic role of</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="apple-style-span"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Jane_Watson" title="Mary Jane Watson" style="background-attachment:initial;background-origin: initial;background-clip: initial; background-color:initial;background-position:initial initial;background-repeat: initial initial"><span style="color:#0645AD">Mary Jane Watson</span></a></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> the girlfriend and later wife of </span><span class="apple-style-span">Peter Parker, the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="apple-style-span"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alter_ego" title="Alter ego" style="background-attachment:initial;background-origin: initial;background-clip: initial; background-color:initial;background-position:initial initial;background-repeat: initial initial"><span style="color:#0645AD">alter ego</span></a></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="apple-style-span">of</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="apple-style-span"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spider-Man" title="Spider-Man" style="background-attachment:initial;background-origin: initial;background-clip: initial; background-color:initial;background-position:initial initial;background-repeat: initial initial"><span style="color:#0645AD">Spider-Man</span></a></span> in the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="apple-style-span"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spider-Man_in_film" title="Spider-Man in film" style="background-attachment:initial;background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;background-color:initial;background-position:initial initial; background-repeat:initial initial"><i><span style="color:#0645AD">Spider-Man</span></i><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color:#0645AD;text-decoration:none; text-underline:none"> </span></span><span style="color:#0645AD">trilogy</span></a></span><span class="apple-converted-space">.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><br /><br /><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/23388251?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="425" height="239" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/23388251">The Films of Terrence Malick (MOMI, May 13-15)</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user6994428">Matt Zoller Seitz</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p><br /><br />This is Malick’s fifth feature, starring Brad Pitt, Sean Penn and Jessica Chastain. The film story centers around a family with three boys in the 1950s. The eldest son witnesses the loss of innocence.<br /><br /><strong>SYNOPSIS</strong><br />The Tree of Life is the impressionistic story of a Midwestern family in the 1950's. The film follows the life journey of the eldest son, Jack, through the innocence of childhood to his disillusioned adult years as he tries to reconcile a complicated relationship with his father. Jack finds himself a lost soul in the modern world, seeking answers to the origins and meaning of life while questioning the existence of faith.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.supplemagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/Thetreeoflifeposter.jpg" alt="Thetreeoflifeposter" title="Thetreeoflifeposter" width="330" height="518" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1600" /><br /><br /><h2 style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 1.25em; padding: 0px;">FEATURE FILMS</h2><br /><ul style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; font-size: 1.1em; padding: 0px;"><br /> <li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; padding: 0px;"><br /><h3 style="vertical-align: baseline; font-size: 1em; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Palme d'Or</h3><br /><a style="vertical-align: baseline; color: #aa8905; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/11157567.html">THE TREE OF LIFE</a> directed by <a style="vertical-align: baseline; color: #aa8905; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/artist/id/11157612.html">Terrence MALICK</a></li><br /> <li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; padding: 0px;"><br /><h3 style="vertical-align: baseline; font-size: 1em; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Grand Prix Ex-aequo</h3><br /><a style="vertical-align: baseline; color: #aa8905; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/11169569.html">BIR ZAMANLAR ANADOLU'DA</a> (<a style="vertical-align: baseline; color: #aa8905; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/11169569.html">ONCE UPON A TIME IN ANATOLIA</a>) directed by <a style="vertical-align: baseline; color: #aa8905; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/artist/id/10800475.html">Nuri Bilge CEYLAN</a></li><br /> <li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; padding: 0px;"><a style="vertical-align: baseline; color: #aa8905; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/11159252.html">LE GAMIN AU VÉLO</a> (<a style="vertical-align: baseline; color: #aa8905; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/11159252.html">THE KID WITH A BIKE</a>) directed by <a style="vertical-align: baseline; color: #aa8905; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/artist/id/7778.html">Jean-Pierre et Luc DARDENNE</a></li><br /> <li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; padding: 0px;"><br /><h3 style="vertical-align: baseline; font-size: 1em; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Award for Best Director</h3><br /><a style="vertical-align: baseline; color: #aa8905; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/artist/id/11164187.html">Nicolas WINDING REFN</a> for <a style="vertical-align: baseline; color: #aa8905; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/11164186.html">DRIVE</a></li><br /> <li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; padding: 0px;"><br /><h3 style="vertical-align: baseline; font-size: 1em; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Award for Best Screenplay</h3><br /><a style="vertical-align: baseline; color: #aa8905; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/artist/id/11168952.html">Joseph CEDAR</a> for <a style="vertical-align: baseline; color: #aa8905; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/11168951.html">HEARAT SHULAYIM</a> (<a style="vertical-align: baseline; color: #aa8905; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/11168951.html">Footnote</a>)</li><br /> <li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; padding: 0px;"><br /><h3 style="vertical-align: baseline; font-size: 1em; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Award for Best Actress</h3><br /><a style="vertical-align: baseline; color: #aa8905; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/artist/id/11159791.html">Kirsten DUNST</a> in <a style="vertical-align: baseline; color: #aa8905; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/11159506.html">MELANCHOLIA</a> directed by <a style="vertical-align: baseline; color: #aa8905; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/artist/id/1621.html">Lars VON TRIER</a></li><br /> <li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; padding: 0px;"><br /><h3 style="vertical-align: baseline; font-size: 1em; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Award for Best Actor</h3><br /><a style="vertical-align: baseline; color: #aa8905; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/artist/id/11170921.html">Jean DUJARDIN</a> in <a style="vertical-align: baseline; color: #aa8905; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/11169584.html">THE ARTIST</a> directed by <a style="vertical-align: baseline; color: #aa8905; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/artist/id/11169585.html">Michel HAZANAVICIUS</a></li><br /> <li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; padding: 0px;"><br /><h3 style="vertical-align: baseline; font-size: 1em; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Jury Prize</h3><br /><a style="vertical-align: baseline; color: #aa8905; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/11169556.html">POLISSE</a> (<a style="vertical-align: baseline; color: #aa8905; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/11169556.html">POLISS</a>) directed by <a style="vertical-align: baseline; color: #aa8905; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/artist/id/11169557.html">MAÏWENN</a></li><br /> <li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; padding: 0px;"><br /><h3 style="vertical-align: baseline; font-size: 1em; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Vulcain Prize for an artist technician, awarded by the C.S.T.</h3><br /><a style="vertical-align: baseline; color: #aa8905; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/11167706.html">LA PIEL QUE HABITO</a> (<a style="vertical-align: baseline; color: #aa8905; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/11167706.html">THE SKIN I LIVE IN</a>) directed by <a style="vertical-align: baseline; color: #aa8905; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/artist/id/11169626.html">José Luis ALCAINE</a></li><br /> <li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; padding: 0px;"><br /><h3 style="vertical-align: baseline; font-size: 1em; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Special Distinction by the C.S.T.</h3><br /><a style="vertical-align: baseline; color: #aa8905; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/11169463.html">WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN</a> directed by <a style="vertical-align: baseline; color: #aa8905; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/artist/id/11174729.html">Paul DAVIES</a>, <a style="vertical-align: baseline; color: #aa8905; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/artist/id/11174728.html">Joe BINI</a></li><br /></ul><br /><h2 style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 1.25em; padding: 0px;">SHORT FILMS</h2><br /><ul style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; font-size: 1.1em; padding: 0px;"><br /> <li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; padding: 0px;"><br /><h3 style="vertical-align: baseline; font-size: 1em; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Palme d'Or - Short Film</h3><br /><a style="vertical-align: baseline; color: #aa8905; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/11171275.html">CROSS</a> (<a style="vertical-align: baseline; color: #aa8905; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/11171275.html">CROSS - COUNTRY</a>) directed by <a style="vertical-align: baseline; color: #aa8905; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/artist/id/11132899.html">Maryna VRODA</a></li><br /> <li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; padding: 0px;"><br /><h3 style="vertical-align: baseline; font-size: 1em; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Jury Prize - Short Film</h3><br /><a style="vertical-align: baseline; color: #aa8905; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/11171149.html">BADPAKJE 46</a> (<a style="vertical-align: baseline; color: #aa8905; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/11171149.html">SWIMSUIT 46</a>) directed by <a style="vertical-align: baseline; color: #aa8905; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/artist/id/11171168.html">Wannes DESTOOP</a></li><br /></ul><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">• Prize of Un Certain Regard Ex-aequo</span><br />ARIRANG directed by KIM Ki-Duk<br /><br />• HALT AUF FREIER STRECKE (STOPPED ON TRACK) directed by Andreas DRESEN<br /><br />• Un Certain Regard Special Jury Prize<br />ELENA directed by Andrey ZVYAGINTSEV<br /><br />• Directing Prize of Un Certain Regard<br />BÉ OMID É DIDAR directed by Mohammad RASOULOF<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">CINEFONDATION :</span><br /><br />• 1st Prize Cinéfondation<br />DER BRIEF (THE LETTER) directed by Doroteya DROUMEVA<br /><br />• 2nd Prize - Cinéfondation<br />DRARI directed by Kamal LAZRAQ<br /><br />• 3rd Prize Cinéfondation<br />YA-GAN-BI-HANG (FLY BY NIGHT) directed by SON Tae-gyum<br /><br />The <a href="http://www.festival-cannes.fr/en/archives/juryLongFilm.html">Jury</a><br />Robert De Niro <br />President of the Jury <br />• <br />Olivier ASSAYAS<br />Director<br />• <br />Martina GUSMAN<br />• <br />Mahamat-Saleh HAROUN<br />Director<br />• <br />Jude LAW<br />• <br />Nansun SHI<br />• <br />Uma THURMAN<br />Actress<br />• <br />Johnnie TO<br />Director<br />• <br />Linn ULLMANN<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">~ Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima</span><br /><br /><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>SHARE PICTUREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11655196861146706362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210900598930382356.post-71862134586676948752011-05-22T05:57:00.000-07:002011-05-25T10:07:43.016-07:00Nigerian Photographer in final for Photoafrica Award in Spain<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOMqGaZeG13Pv-S7rMXErIL71UhynbyEEoRDN1NVEYRjFZjwVacUAkT1hAbYH8XqeQkLZrJTSnj2m1EtATLXivWuAdJ-szNEwrcs4cFNri_L9pI_6pdnPF6VSjWA0S6SSJJEvd9Tj6F2g/s1600/Tarifa+2011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOMqGaZeG13Pv-S7rMXErIL71UhynbyEEoRDN1NVEYRjFZjwVacUAkT1hAbYH8XqeQkLZrJTSnj2m1EtATLXivWuAdJ-szNEwrcs4cFNri_L9pI_6pdnPF6VSjWA0S6SSJJEvd9Tj6F2g/s400/Tarifa+2011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609525282233729570" /></a><br /><br />Press release:<br /><br />Nigerian Photographer Adolphus Opara Competes in Spain for Photoafrica Award<br /><br />May 20th, Tarifa, Spain – Award-winning Nigerian photographer <a href="http://www.adolphusopara.com/">Adolphus Opara</a> competes with his work “Urban Insomnia” in finale of 4th Photoafrica contest, which takes place within the 8th African Film Festival of Tarifa (FCAT) in Spain, from June 6th to 19th. Adolphus Opara thematizes in his work, among other themes, also modern African cities and their dwellers. Opara won or was nominated for several domestic and international awards for his work including World Press Photo Joop Swart Masterclass 2010. He regularly exhibits his work in Nigeria as well as in Europe. The 4th Photoafrica contest offers €3,000 in prize money through 3 awards. <br /><br />The topic of this year Photoafrica is “Urban Space” of African cities seen through the photographers eyes. The exhibiton of altogether 27 large format photographs will be inaugurated and installed outdoors in Tarifa before and through the festival and after its closure will be travelling the whole year through Spanish and African cities. The Photoafrica is co-organized by Andalusian Centre Of Photography.<br /><br />“This year we registered record number of 75 photographers from all over the Africa, who sent more than 400 photographs to the competition and from which we chose 27 final photographs to be inaugurated in Tarifa and on the following tour.” says Gaetano Gualdo, Photoafrica coordinator and continues: “The jury will select three absolute winners, which will get 3 awards endowed with 1 500, 1 000 and 500 euros respectively.”<br /><br />While topics of previous editions were “Borders” in 2009 and “Independence” in 2010, this year topic is “Urban Space”. “We decided for this topic, because more and more Africans resettle from villages to cities and this predicts a lot of radical changes of the continent in the future. We want to capture this process.” adds Gualdo. <br /><br />4th Photoafrica participants represent newcomers as well as experienced photographers, in some cases participants or even winners (Mimi Cherono or Adolphus Opara) from previous editions. The winning photograph from last year “Portrait of the artist as a young woman” of Mimi Cherone was selected as the official visual of this year African Film Festival of Tarifa.<br /><br />The most entries (23) came this year from South Africa and 16 of them made into the finale. Surprisingly the average age of South African finalists is between 20-30 years and some of them have started to make photographs already in their teen years.<br /><br />From Tarifa 4th Photoafrica exhibition will be travelling through Spanish and African cities till the end of the year.<br /><br />There have been 215 photographs from 120 photographers exhibited within Photoafrica since it has started in 2008.<br /><br />25 photographers competing at 4th Photoafrica:<br />● Abdelmohcine Nakari, Morroco<br />● Aboubacar Traore, Mali <br />● Adolphus Opara, Nigeria <br />● Djibril Drame, Senegal <br />● Georges Senga, RDC<br />● James Muriuki, Kenya <br />● Hlompho Letsielo, Lesotho<br />● Resta Nyamwanza, Zimbabwe <br />● Mário Macilau, Mozambique<br />● Marwen Trabelsi, Tunis<br />● Mimi Cherono Ng'ok, Kenya<br />● Noncedo Charmaine Mathibela, South Africa <br />● Roanne Sutcliffe, South Africa<br />● Anthony Purnell, South Africa<br />● Bianca Kerstein Vinay, South Africa<br />● Cendyl Charlton, South Africa<br />● Chandre Busschau, South Africa<br />● Costas Christodoulou, South Africa<br />● David Kutlwano Moagi, South Africa <br />● Davina Gokool, South Africa<br />● Hayden Brawn, South Africa<br />● Ihsaan Haffejee, South Africa<br />● Jessica MacLeod, South Africa<br />● Kristi Bailey, South Africa<br />● Mack Magagane, South Africa<br /><br /><br /><strong>About FCAT</strong><br />African film festival of Tarifa (FCAT – Festival de Cine Africano de Tarifa) is an independent and competitive film festival and one of the biggest African film festivals in Europe. The FCAT celebrates its eighth edition from 11th to 19th June in Andalusian town Tarifa - the closest town of continental Europe to the African continent - the two continents are in fact only 14 km apart from one another in this geographical area.<br />This year FCAT will screen up over hundred African films and it will bring together some of the most distinguished African filmmakers. Its aim is to spread knowledge about African film production by exhibiting a representative wide variety of audiovisual African works every year: from the classics to more innovative and recent films, from documentaries to feature length fiction films, from South Africa to Morocco and from Senegal to Ethiopia. More on www.fcat.es<br /><br /><br /><strong>Contact:</strong><br />Filip Hruby<br />International Press Officer<br />African Film Festival of Tarifa (FCAT)<br />Mobile: +420/775 011 550<br />Skype: filip.hruby2409<br />gabineteprensa2@fcat.es<br />www.fcat.es<br /><br /><br /><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>SHARE PICTUREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11655196861146706362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210900598930382356.post-20460155538986324352011-05-22T04:25:00.000-07:002011-05-25T10:07:43.016-07:00Thank God she is black and beautiful<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIX0H1wj3B6sAML-Upae0S3NNV_JxextyS72wBRg976f7wV5v_3zDpXlQwoc21dcbfcBV7S4HuOi30n26KAyKkMabNgqd3oITKDhdw7rm-O3jEeNQ7g6B_6WKoazOWcSVjWoqFyWEkG08/s1600/Udju+Azul+di+Yonta%252C+1992.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIX0H1wj3B6sAML-Upae0S3NNV_JxextyS72wBRg976f7wV5v_3zDpXlQwoc21dcbfcBV7S4HuOi30n26KAyKkMabNgqd3oITKDhdw7rm-O3jEeNQ7g6B_6WKoazOWcSVjWoqFyWEkG08/s400/Udju+Azul+di+Yonta%252C+1992.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609501409206346834" /></a><br /><br />If your sweetheart is naturally black and beautiful,<br />Black and beautiful like Yonta<br />Yonta the naive<br />Yonta the suave<br />Yonta the brave<br />Please give thanks to the Almighty God who made her so.<br /><br />She is hot chocolate and good for the heart.<br /><br />Tell her not to bleach, tone or skin wash her natural endowment given to her by our maker and owner of our life.<br /><br />I love my own black and beautiful woman.<br /><br />I thank God for the black woman after my heart.<br /><br /><strong>Photo Credit: From the film THE BLUE EYES OF YONTA /UDJU AZUL DI YONTA by Flora Gomes, Guinea-Bissau, 1992; 90m</strong><br /><br /><iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Wo2w63w1_Lg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Yonta is a beautiful young woman growing up in the city of Bissau a generation after her nation has gained independence. She develops a secret crush on Vicente, a good friend of her parents and a hero of their country's struggle. Meanwhile, Yonta herself has a secret admirer, a shy young man name Zé who sends her love letters copied from a Scandinavian book (hence, her "beautiful blue eyes"). Gomes' film is a lovely, delicate work about youthful illusions--both personal and national--that powerfully demonstrates the director's talent for eliciting wonderfully nuanced performances from his actors.<br /><br /><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>SHARE PICTUREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11655196861146706362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210900598930382356.post-45825254467025669142011-05-21T07:45:00.000-07:002011-05-25T10:07:43.016-07:00Boko Haram threatens Security in Nigeria<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUT0a5dSIHY2xPER4e2fzqL_qDNXZAk1bqQwHBGNMAocIyeiWnWenj-iUahyphenhyphen4Z3JeW19JwAD1UEgTWaxDWRaFgq2jq_a33K0LeiGshtTDTvF1ox4OUR2uCUH0qsDsqZ7_e9z1PxdM0eEk/s1600/Boko+Haram.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 277px; height: 207px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUT0a5dSIHY2xPER4e2fzqL_qDNXZAk1bqQwHBGNMAocIyeiWnWenj-iUahyphenhyphen4Z3JeW19JwAD1UEgTWaxDWRaFgq2jq_a33K0LeiGshtTDTvF1ox4OUR2uCUH0qsDsqZ7_e9z1PxdM0eEk/s400/Boko+Haram.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609182934640836290" /></a><br /><br />PRESS RELEASE<br /><br />Security In The Country/Boko Haram Sect<br /><br />As mark of commitment and responsibility to our statutory duties, I find it very expedient to address the Press for the purpose of acquainting you and the nation at large with the recent happenings in Bauchi and Borno States<br /><br />The Inspector-General of Police Hafiz Abubakar Ringim, NPM, mni wishes to inform the general public that the Police are fully aware of the current threat to security in some parts of the country.<br /><br />The Police in collaboration with other security agencies are working tirelessly to restore peace and order in the affected areas and the IGP has vowed to bring to book the Islamic sect called Boko Haram and any other group of persons who are behind the current spate of bomb blasts in the country. Considering the previous activities of Boko Haram sect in the country, the sect is responsible for almost daily killings in remote northeastern Nigeria and is thought to be behind a bombing on Thursday 19/05/2011 that injured policemen and soldiers. The explosion followed an attack on a police station late on Wednesday by suspected members of Boko Haram, a group behind frequent attacks in the northeastern states of Borno and Bauchi.<br /><br />On the 7th of September, 2010 at about 1845hrs during the Magrib prayer, (evening prayer) a group of about 200 suspected Boko Haram fanatics armed themselves with General Purpose Machine Guns and Locally made Bombs attacked Bauchi Federal Prisons and consequently set free 721 inmates. Among the forcefully released inmates were 105 members of Boko Haram sect who were previously remanded in the prison custody. 4 persons were reportedly killed during the incident, among them were, 1 Soldier, 1 Policeman and 2 civilians, while 4 persons were reportedly injured.<br /><br />During this attack, the administrative Block, the Armoury and a van were set ablaze; the fire was later put-off by combined efforts of Fire Service and the Police. 171 empty shells and live ammunition of General Purpose Machine Gun were recovered at the scene. Also recovered are two provocative handbills where names of some clerics are written such as: Bishop A.T Moses, Mallam Abubakar and Pastor Sunday Peters among many others. Our investigation has revealed that most of the names and addresses are the people considered as critics and enemies.<br /><br />Consequent upon this incident, Police has risen to the occasion and re-arrested 35 inmates. Also information has it that, some inmates have started returning to the prison on their own volition. We understand that lack of cooperation from the residents has hindered thorough operation in that area. According to the force spokesman in Borno, Boko Haram had killed 50 officers since its uprising.<br /><br />Our investigation revealed that Boko Haram is linked with al-Qaeda and on 2 October 2010, an ‘Eid Address’ – also dated 2 October 2010 – from Sheikh Muhammed Abu Bakr bin Muhammed ash-Shakwa, named as the ‘Emir of the Sunni Group for the Islamic Call and Jihad in Some African Lands Known as Nigeria’ [aka the BokuHaram] was released onto jihadist forums. In it, ash-Shakwa makes a lengthy and very robust appeal for Muslims in Nigeria to wage jihad to defend Islam from its ‘enemies’. He says that the group is fully committed to carrying out the ‘programme of the Prophet’ and establishing Sharia law.<br /><br />He also pays tribute to al-Qaeda, its regional affiliates and respective leaders in Iraq, Yemen and North Africa, as well as the Mujahidin Youth Movement [aka the Shabab] in Somalia, and ‘the mujahidin in Pakistan, Chechnya and Kashmir’. Ash-Shakwa’s address was released in a PDF format by al-Fajr Media and is sourced to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb’s (AQIM) media division, al-Andalus. It appears to be genuine. This is significant as in February 2010, an address from the head of AQIM, Abu Mus’ab Abdal-Wadoud, entitled ‘The Genocide of Muslims in Nigeria – A New Episode in the Ongoing Crusader War’ was released onto jihadist forums in which he offered to train and arm Nigerian Muslims to conduct attacks against Christians in Nigeria. Following the release of ash-Shakwa’s Eid address, several members on jihadist forums referred to the group as ‘al-Qaeda in Nigeria’.<br /><br />On 24 April, 2011 the radical sect, Boko Haram, vowed to continue fighting until the Nigerian Constitution is set aside and Islamic government is established across the country.<br /><br />However, the security agencies are in the process of identifying and arresting the perpetrators behind this mindless threats and mischief across the country and all persons are advised to be law abiding. The Boko Haram sect and its members are under surveillance and they will all be arrested and prosecuted in due course. Nigerians should discountenance their threats and go about their lawful duties”.<br /><br />Signed<br />DCP OLUSOLA E. AMORE<br />FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,<br />FORCE HEADQUARTERS,<br />ABUJA<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Links on Boko Haram in Nigeria:</span><br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boko_Haram">About the Boko Haram Sect</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.tribune.com.ng/sun/index.php/crime-features/3058-boko-haram-who-are-they">Boko Haram: Who are they?</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>SHARE PICTUREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11655196861146706362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210900598930382356.post-9888414133238356322011-05-21T02:37:00.000-07:002011-05-25T10:07:43.016-07:00Human Rights Groups Condemn Recent Attacks in Darfur<span style="font-weight:bold;">Human Rights Groups Condemn Recent Attacks and Humanitarian Aid Restrictions in Darfur</span><br /><br /><br />Washington, D.C. – Sudan Now, a group of human rights and anti-genocide organizations, today called on the Obama Administration to condemn the Government of Sudan for conducting air strikes against civilians in Darfur and preventing humanitarian assistance from accessing the affected sites. The administration should demand that access for humanitarian groups and peacekeepers be restored immediately, the Sudan coalition said. <br /><br />The air attacks were the second in three days conducted by the Government of Sudan and were followed by the denial of access for humanitarian groups and peacekeepers for nearly all of South Darfur, including two of the largest displacement camps in the world.<br /><br />“The U.S. government has offered a roadmap to normalization of relations with Khartoum, with the hope that these incentives could lead to a peaceful transition to independence of South Sudan as well as progress toward peace in Darfur. The latest egregious acts of bombing civilians and denying UN access should give immediate pause to offers of normalization. President Obama should make it clear to the Sudanese government that while the United States is willing to offer a way forward, there are certain acts that are unacceptable under any circumstances.” stated Mark Hanis, President and Co-Founder of Genocide Intervention Network / Save Darfur Coalition.<br /><br />“Restrictions on humanitarian access are immoral and totally unacceptable,” said Ruth Messinger, President of American Jewish World Service. “The path towards peace is undermined when violence continues to be perpetrated and vital supplies and service are not permitted to reach those who rely on them for survival. I expect the United States Government and the international community to stand firm and send a strong message that these behaviors must end.”<br /><br />“Although we repeatedly hear about how the Sudanese government is increasing access for peacekeepers and humanitarians in Darfur, invariably they revert to bombing civilians and cutting off access to aid,” said Enough Executive Director John Bradshaw. “Unless the international community imposes a clear cost for this egregious behavior, it will keep recurring.”<br /><br />####<br /><br />Sudan Now is a campaign led by a group of anti-genocide and human rights advocacy organizations committed to bringing meaningful and lasting peace to Sudan and encouraging strong American leadership and action to achieve this goal. The campaign challenges President Obama and top U.S. administration officials to live up to their promises to take strong and immediate action to help end the international crisis in Sudan and bring a lasting peace to Sudan’s people. Organizations participating in the campaign include Humanity United, the Enough Project at the Center for American Progress, Genocide Intervention Network, American Jewish World Service, Stop Genocide Now, and Investors Against Genocide.<br /><br /><strong>Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time</strong><div><b><br /></b></div><div><strong></strong><b><strong>Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time </strong></b></div><div><b><strong><br /></strong></b></div><div><b><strong></strong><strong>20 May 2011</strong> </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> 20:37 </b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4619722"></a><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4619722">25 African Photographers compete in Spain for Photoafrica awards</a> </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><!-- End Include -->14:39 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4619540"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4619540"> 2nd AFRICA-INDIA FORUM SUMMIT / Shared Vision at the Center of Second Africa- India Forum Summit</a> </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><!-- End Include -->14:31 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4619526"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4619526"> UN Secretary-General Appoints Margaret Vogt of Nigeria as his Special Representative to the Central African Republic and Head of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office</a><br /></b><div><strong><br /></strong></div><div>14:20 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4619535"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4619535"> Darfur / UNAMID Daily Media Brief</a></div><div><br /></div><div> <!-- End Include --> <strong>19 May 2011</strong> </div><div><br /></div><div> 17:40 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4618423"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4618423"> List of accredited media and organizations for the African Development Bank Pre-Annual Meetings Virtual Press Conference held on Thursday, 19 May from 3 – 4 p.m. in Tunis.</a> </div><div><br /></div><div> <!-- End Include -->16:39 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4618375"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4618375"> U.S. Engagement and Recent Visits to Sudan</a> </div><div><br /></div><div> <!-- End Include --> <strong>18 May 2011</strong> </div><div><br /></div><div> 20:52 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4617312"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4617312"> Darfur / UNAMID Daily Media Brief</a> </div><div><br /></div><div> <!-- End Include -->20:14 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4617288"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4617288"> Special Sudan Briefing with Special Envoy to Sudan Princeton Lyman and USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah</a> </div><div><br /></div><div> <!-- End Include --> <strong>17 May 2011</strong> </div><div><br /></div><div> 21:20 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4616070"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4616070"> Darfur / UNAMID Daily Media Brief</a> </div><div><br /></div><div> <!-- End Include -->17:56 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4615790"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4615790"> Darfur / UNAMID Daily Media Brief</a> </div><div><br /></div><div> <!-- End Include -->17:44 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4615832"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4615832"> UNAMID Chief deeply troubled over recent air strikes in South Darfur</a> </div><div><br /></div><div> <!-- End Include --> <strong>16 May 2011</strong> </div><div><br /></div><div> 16:32 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4614212"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4614212"> Ms. Aïchatou Mindaoudou Souleymane of Niger appointed as the Deputy Joint Special Representative (Political) in the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID)</a></div></div><br /><br /><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>SHARE PICTUREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11655196861146706362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210900598930382356.post-44821292176626073882011-05-21T01:30:00.000-07:002011-05-25T10:07:43.016-07:00The Muslim Woman Who Saw Jesus!<strong>The Muslim Woman Who Saw Jesus!</strong><br /><br />Millions of people are still perishing in ignorance of the Truth of Jesus Christ, because of their unbelief and being misled by false doctrine and false religion. That is why I have to remind them of the awesome testimony of Gulshan Esther, a Muslim girl, imprisoned by her religion and severe disability, but was healed and set free by Jesus Christ HIMSELF!<br /><br /><iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/p4x4qchBBGg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />You should also read the book of her unforgettable testimony <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0310256887/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=kissrose-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399353&creativeASIN=0310256887">The Torn Veil: The Best-Selling Story of Gulshan Esther</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJizppJBkfgf9DX41xnZaIW93lDeUDfFSZ_nP7KVrYLT8GSRxxra3SjhZi0uP9u4jBRMSLSSvmBmkaelAUPB-GiDxLrGTRPQ_nat8I5tU2cg9WtjeR2Zx4uWDh0z8Zb_qhonHKLCfaRQ/s1600/Gulshan+Esther.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJizppJBkfgf9DX41xnZaIW93lDeUDfFSZ_nP7KVrYLT8GSRxxra3SjhZi0uP9u4jBRMSLSSvmBmkaelAUPB-GiDxLrGTRPQ_nat8I5tU2cg9WtjeR2Zx4uWDh0z8Zb_qhonHKLCfaRQ/s400/Gulshan+Esther.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609090303489993794" /></a><br /><br />A true story of freedom and miraculous healing as a Muslim girl finds faith in Christ<br /><br />When Gulshan Esther, a devout Muslim girl, was six months old, typhoid left her a cripple. Her loving father took her from Pakistan to England to find a cure, but the only hope the British specialist could offer was prayer. Gulshan and her father made pilgrimage to Mecca and begged Allah for healing, but it was not until her father’s untimely death that Gulshan began to receive an answer. In her grief she wanted to die, but as she called out to God, for the first time in her life she sensed she was being heard. She heard a low, gentle voice say, "I won’t let you die. I will keep you aliveÖI am Jesus, son of Mary."<br /><br />As Gulshan began reading the Quran, her interest in Jesus grew, until one amazing night he appeared to her in her bedroom in a blaze of light. He restored her crippled arm and leg and taught her The Lord’s Prayer. He told her to go to his people—now her people—and tell them what he had done. Since that time, and to this day, she has been a joyous, obedient disciple of Christ. The Torn Veil is an amazing story of faith and determination.<br /><br />This moving autobiography was first published in 1984 and has sold over 200,000 copies worldwide.<br /><br />Click on the Amazon image of the book cover below to order for this book of the extraordinary testimony of this Muslim woman who saw Jesus our Lord!<br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=kissrose-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0310256887&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>SHARE PICTUREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11655196861146706362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210900598930382356.post-91715589988271371182011-05-20T10:49:00.000-07:002011-05-25T10:07:43.017-07:00Shell Decides to Move Forward With Groundbreaking Floating LNG<object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0" id="player-single" width="320" height="320"><param name="movie" value="http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/mnr_lib/201002/players/player-single.swf?job=48922" /><param name="allowScriptAcess" value="sameDomain" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="flashvars" value="playlistpath=prne/shell/48922" /><embed src="http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/mnr_lib/201002/players/player-single.swf?job=48922" flashvars="playlistpath=/prne/shell/48922" quality="high" name="player-single" wmode="transparent" allowscriptaccess="sameDomain" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" width="320" height="320"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />Shell Decides to Move Forward With Groundbreaking Floating LNG<br />Shell Announces Final Investment Decision on Prelude Floating LNG Project in Australia<br /><br />The Hague, May 20 /PRNewswire/ — The Board of Royal Dutch Shell plc (Shell) has taken the final investment decision on the Prelude Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) Project in Australia (100% Shell), building the world's first FLNG facility. Moored far out to sea, some 200 kilometres from the nearest land in Australia, the FLNG facility will produce gas from offshore fields, and liquefy it onboard by cooling.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioq3vLkGmK2q_mAe_c5c0Uq350adYBk1997TGyqFh5qzU59OnCsowaQJM6c9ktdiMunM5jQVGvAYtGHIhvsO58pcMw7pdjMw7irDceUA_LipggZFXrLsSpj-40tuYp3lSehgRx6hE2IeAG/s1600/Shell+LNG.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 283px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioq3vLkGmK2q_mAe_c5c0Uq350adYBk1997TGyqFh5qzU59OnCsowaQJM6c9ktdiMunM5jQVGvAYtGHIhvsO58pcMw7pdjMw7irDceUA_LipggZFXrLsSpj-40tuYp3lSehgRx6hE2IeAG/s400/Shell+LNG.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608855658301043282" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />The decision means that Shell is now ready to start detailed design and construction of what will be the world's largest floating offshore facility, in a ship yard in South Korea.<br /><br />From bow to stern, Shell's FLNG facility will be 488 metres long, and will be the largest floating offshore facility in the world - longer than four soccer fields laid end to end. When fully equipped and with its storage tanks full, it will weigh around 600,000 tonnes - roughly six times as much as the largest aircraft carrier. Some 260,000 tonnes of that weight will consist of steel, around five times more than was used to build the Sydney Harbour Bridge.<br /><br />"Our innovative FLNG technology will allow us to develop offshore gas fields that otherwise would be too costly to develop," said Malcolm Brinded, Shell's Executive Director, Upstream International. "Our decision to go ahead with this project is a true breakthrough for the LNG industry, giving it a significant boost to help meet the world's growing demand for the cleanest-burning fossil fuel."<br /><br />Brinded continued "FLNG technology is an exciting innovation, complementary to onshore LNG, which can help accelerate the development of gas resources".<br /><br />The facility has been designed to withstand the severest cyclones - those of Category 5. Ocean-going LNG carriers will offload liquefied gas, chilled to minus162 Celsius and shrunk in volume by 600 times, and other products, directly from the facility out at sea for delivery to markets worldwide. Until now, the liquefaction of offshore gas has always involved piping the gas to a land-based plant.<br /><br />Shell has progressed the Prelude FLNG project at a rapid pace, with first production of LNG expected some ten years after the gas was discovered.<br /><br />The FLNG facility will tap around 3 trillion cubic feet equivalent of resources contained in the Prelude gas field. Shell discovered the Prelude gas field in 2007.<br /><br />Some 110,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day of expected production from Prelude should underpin at least 5.3 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of liquids, comprising 3.6 mtpa of LNG, 1.3 mtpa of condensate and 0.4 mtpa of liquefied petroleum gas. The FLNG facility will stay permanently moored at the Prelude gas field for 25 years, and in later development phases should produce from other fields in the area where Shell has an interest.<br /><br />Ann Pickard, Country Chair of Shell in Australia said "this will be a game changer for the energy industry. We will be deploying this revolutionary technology first in Australian waters, where it will add another dimension to Australia's already vibrant gas industry."<br /><br />Brinded added "beyond this, our ambition is to develop more FLNG projects globally. Our design can accommodate a range of gas fields, and our strategic partnership with Technip and Samsung should enable us to apply it progressively faster for future projects. We see opportunities around the world to work on other FLNG projects with governments, energy companies and customers."<br /><br />Shell's decision to make FLNG a reality culminates more than a decade of research and development. It builds on the company's extensive know-how in offshore production, gas liquefaction, LNG shipping, and delivering major projects that integrate the gas value chain-from wellhead to burner.<br /><br />The Prelude FLNG project will be the first Australian upstream project in which Shell is the operator. Australia is one of Shell's key growth provinces, and Shell's upstream investment in Australia should reach some $30 billion over the next five years, including the Prelude and Gorgon projects, and on-going exploration and feasibility studies in the country.<br /><br />Prelude FLNG is part of Shell's industry-leading portfolio of medium term growth options, where the company has around 30 new upstream projects under study world-wide, to support long term profitable growth.<br />Notes to Editors<br /><br />Shell is a global, integrated energy company with operations in more than 90 countries and territories, with businesses including: oil and gas exploration and production; refineries and chemical plants; processing and marketing of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and gas-to-liquid (GTL) products; marketing and shipping of oil products and chemicals; and renewable energy sources, such as biofuels.<br /><br />Gas resources are found all over the world in remote offshore accumulations. In Australian waters alone there is an estimated 140 trillion cubic feet of such "stranded" gas, according to a 2008 report by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (http://www.solve.csiro.au/0608/article5.htm). Shell FLNG technology will make it feasible to develop such resources, since it reduces both the cost and environmental footprint of their development. Having the gas-processing and gas-liquefaction facility located at the site of an offshore field removes the need for: gas-compression platforms; long subsea pipelines to shore; near-shore works, such as dredging and jetty construction; and onshore construction, including roads, storage yards and accommodation facilities. Another plus is that FLNG can accelerate LNG developments. This is because an FLNG vessel can be ordered at an earlier stage of appraisal of a new gas field, with less guarantee of production longevity than needed to underpin an onshore greenfield investment; if and when the gas resources in the first field are exhausted, the FLNG can be redeployed to another field.<br /><br />Shell is the operator and 100% equity holder of the WA-371-P permit in the Browse Basin, where the Prelude field is located. The field is approximately 475 kilometres north-northeast of Broome, Western Australia, and over 200 kilometres from the nearest point on the mainland. Shell plans to have initially seven subsea wells at the Prelude field. From these wells, gas will travel through flexible pipes to the FLNG facility.<br /><br />Shell has been doing business in Australia for 110 years, including participation in major LNG projects such as the North West Shelf and Gorgon.<br />For more information, interview requests or photography, please contact:<br /><br />Shell Media Relations<br /><br />Australia, Claire Wilkinson, Claire.Wilkinson@shell.com +61 (0)416924822<br /><br />Group: Kirsten Smart, kirsten.smart@shell.com +31 70 3773600<br />Cautionary Note<br /><br />The companies in which Royal Dutch Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate entities. In this press release "Shell", "Shell group" and "Royal Dutch Shell" are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Royal Dutch Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words "we", "us" and "our" are also used to refer to subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These expressions are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies. ''Subsidiaries'', "Shell subsidiaries" and "Shell companies" as used in this press release refer to companies in which Royal Dutch Shell either directly or indirectly has control, by having either a majority of the voting rights or the right to exercise a controlling influence. The companies in which Shell has significant influence but not control are referred to as "associated companies" or "associates" and companies in which Shell has joint control are referred to as "jointly controlled entities". In this press release, associates and jointly controlled entities are also referred to as "equity-accounted investments". The term "Shell interest" is used for convenience to indicate the direct and/or indirect (for example, through our 24% shareholding in Woodside Petroleum Ltd.) ownership interest held by Shell in a venture, partnership or company, after exclusion of all third-party interest.<br /><br />This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Royal Dutch Shell. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management's current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the potential exposure of Royal Dutch Shell to market risks and statements expressing management's expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as ''anticipate'', ''believe'', ''could'', ''estimate'', ''expect'', ''intend'', ''may'', ''plan'', ''objectives'', ''outlook'', ''probably'', ''project'', ''will'', ''seek'', ''target'', ''risks'', ''goals'', ''should'' and similar terms and phrases. There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of Royal Dutch Shell and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this press release, including (without limitation): (a) price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas; (b) changes in demand for Shell's products; (c) currency fluctuations; (d) drilling and production results; (e) reserves estimates; (f) loss of market share and industry competition; (g) environmental and physical risks; (h) risks associated with the identification of suitable potential acquisition properties and targets, and successful negotiation and completion of such transactions; (i) the risk of doing business in developing countries and countries subject to international sanctions; (j) legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments including regulatory measures addressing climate change; (k) economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions; (l) political risks, including the risks of expropriation and renegotiation of the terms of contracts with governmental entities, delays or advancements in the approval of projects and delays in the reimbursement for shared costs; and (m) changes in trading conditions. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional factors that may affect future results are contained in Royal Dutch Shell's 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2010 (available at www.shell.com/investor and www.sec.gov ). These factors also should be considered by the reader. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this press release, 20 May, 2011. Neither Royal Dutch Shell nor any of its subsidiaries undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information. In light of these risks, results could differ materially from those stated, implied or inferred from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.<br /><br />We may have used certain terms in this press release, such as resources, that the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) guidelines strictly prohibit us from including in filings with the SEC. U.S. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F, File No 1-32575, available on the SEC website www.sec.gov. You can also obtain these forms from the SEC by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.<br /><br /><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>SHARE PICTUREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11655196861146706362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210900598930382356.post-29495944182118880222011-05-20T10:19:00.000-07:002011-05-25T10:07:43.017-07:00Barack Obama is also Irish and the Irish love him<object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0" id="player-single" width="320" height="320"><param name="movie" value="http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/mnr_lib/201002/players/player-single.swf?job=50368" /><param name="allowScriptAcess" value="sameDomain" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="flashvars" value="playlistpath=tourismireland/50368" /><embed src="http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/mnr_lib/201002/players/player-single.swf?job=50368" flashvars="playlistpath=tourismireland/50368" quality="high" name="player-single" wmode="transparent" allowscriptaccess="sameDomain" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" width="320" height="320"></embed></object><br /><br />As <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_II">Queen Elizabeth 2</a> ends her own first visit to Ireland, President <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama">Barack Obama</a> begins his own. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsAYU2dcgjIdNSouhfzvrNdj1E63_4IvCK9O05M4AftldwpHbWIFOCzXC93FeGVeyCsKMtoxgQUcgXs65oQt1FacWd5osdocE4XHXfWyjrBj_Av9zf-vl5lZWzmcF52KfaJVrgaVv73hD0/s1600/President+Barack-Obama.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsAYU2dcgjIdNSouhfzvrNdj1E63_4IvCK9O05M4AftldwpHbWIFOCzXC93FeGVeyCsKMtoxgQUcgXs65oQt1FacWd5osdocE4XHXfWyjrBj_Av9zf-vl5lZWzmcF52KfaJVrgaVv73hD0/s400/President+Barack-Obama.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608846188834913746" /></a><br />President Barack Obama<br /><br />He will be one of eight hundred thousand Americans expected to travel to Ireland this year, but his is perhaps the most historic one, because he is actually going back to his ancestral roots. Yes, Barack Obama is also Irish. Most people know him as a native of Honolulu, Hawaii, whose mother Ann Dunham Stanley came from Wichita, Kansas of mostly English descent with the roots of her family tree going as far back as Germany, Wales and of course Ireland where Obama will be welcomed with open arms in Moneygall, County Offaly the birthpace of his great-great-great grandfather Falmouth Kearney (who emigrated to the US in 1850, because of the potato famine). Obama's mother, Ann Dunham, was a descendant of one of Kearney's daughters, Mary Ann Kearney, and Jacob William Dunham. So, the Irish can also claim him and how amusing that would be to his kith and kin from his black African father Barack Obama, Sr., a Luo from Nyang'oma Kogelo, Nyanza Province, Kenya. <br /><br />Obama's 24-hour visit to Ireland begins on Monday and will receive the warmest of Irish hospitality when he visits the Emerald Isle where hundreds of thousands of well wishers will line the streets to his ancestral village of Monegall in Co, Offaly where preparations to host him are already in full swing.<br /><br />“We have huge connections with America and we look forward to deepening those in years to come and giving a warm Irish welcome to all the Americans that come here. There are 40 million people of Irish decent in America and we think they are going to be thrilled that President Obama is coming here and the genealogical connection is an indelible one and we are delighted that president Obama is coming here to discover his roots with us in Ireland,” said Niall Gibbons, CEO Tourism Ireland.<br /><br />“Well, we traced back nine generations from the president, so we took Megan Smolenyak’s work and we took it back another four generations again, tracing it back to the late 1600s and that’s a real achievement in Irish Genealogy because so many of the records have been destroyed over the previous 300 years. The thing to remember as well, is that the president’s family, they weren’t rich, they weren’t anglo Irish, they were simply a regular family and to be able to trace them back was really quite something,” enthused Fiona Fitzsimons, Genealogist, Eneclann.<br /><br />“We hope he will come and visit the school house behind me where his ancestors were educated. The ancestral home still stands in the village, that’s another important site, also Templeharry church. So there are three important sites within the area for anyone to come and visit, and of course it wouldn’t be a presidential visit to Ireland without a traditional stop off in the local pub for a pint of Guinness,” said Henry Healy, one of the 28 living Irish relatives of President Obama.<br />'The place is buzzing,' Majella Hayes, co-owner of Ollie Hayes bar in Moneygall, told the German Press Agency dpa.<br />'The atmosphere is electric. The bar is full of visitors and locals alike. There's nowhere to park your car in the village. There are hundreds of extra people around,' said Hayes, in whose bar President Obama is expected to sample a pint of Guinness on Monday afternoon. But a source at the White House doubts whether the president will drink it.<br /><br />'There is a lot of work going on too with telephone lines and the likes being put in. This is not a tourist town, so we're not used to anything like this,' she added.<br /><br />During his stay President Obama will also visit the capital city of Dublin where a huge celebration rally is planned according to Tourism Ireland.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUgveRiKhWHy9gbz3XxdX2XBcV0allaDKaG-mYxcMwMiVkVwrxnaptldnFEHq1ymGF6AQ0OgKPikpO3ZXl733i7uXbEat1RBesL9t-ghK0wKZMJDUwzW5ZTg-02CemuZ44tGOKqSWGWHYY/s1600/ireland+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUgveRiKhWHy9gbz3XxdX2XBcV0allaDKaG-mYxcMwMiVkVwrxnaptldnFEHq1ymGF6AQ0OgKPikpO3ZXl733i7uXbEat1RBesL9t-ghK0wKZMJDUwzW5ZTg-02CemuZ44tGOKqSWGWHYY/s400/ireland+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608846673089545426" /></a><br />Photo: The residents of Moneygall is in the grip of Obamania, because later this month Obama will be making a presidential pilgrimage here to discover his Irish roots. <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/barackobama/8505559/Barack-Obama-in-Ireland-Moneygall-is-in-the-grip-of-Obamania.html">Photo: KIM HAUGHTON</a>.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8SnyX-GEvv9EfGQX6eG5huPeHydMJOMlyHReu7-tt0V0-K7EpH6xkCYJNV49-W-xQWn0mFFk84_strLQkBZ9YqXE7lUFxk-02YU43bxFrg1dFVKlwdbKSNlIQ3xf5GMPFU5g7dOF_c4s/s1600/obamas+Irish+relative.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8SnyX-GEvv9EfGQX6eG5huPeHydMJOMlyHReu7-tt0V0-K7EpH6xkCYJNV49-W-xQWn0mFFk84_strLQkBZ9YqXE7lUFxk-02YU43bxFrg1dFVKlwdbKSNlIQ3xf5GMPFU5g7dOF_c4s/s400/obamas+Irish+relative.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608847550455209474" /></a><br />Photo: Dorma Lee Reese poses for a picture at her home in Tucson, Ariz., Wednesday, March 16, 2011. Reese, 83, a retired EEG technologist, learned about a year ago that she is a third cousin to President Barack Obama. (<a href="http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2011/03/genealogists_identify_presiden.html">AP Photo/Chris Carlson</a>.)<br /><br />According to <a href="http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/europe/news/article_1640303.php/PREVIEW-Obama-s-ancestral-village-buzzing-ahead-of-Irish-visit">Monsters & Critics</a>, souvenir shops are springing up along with an Obama café, residents painting their houses, with one even painting the front of his house in the colours of the US flag. US flags are on display and tourists can buy t-shirts proclaiming 'Is feidir linn,' which means 'Yes, we can,' in Irish and 'What's the crack, Barack?'. There's also high-fibre, low-fat Obama bread on sale in the grocery shop.<br /><br />Villagers have also been treated to repeated visits from men in dark glasses, making preparations for the stringent security arrangements and a man was quizzed for making death threats.<br /><br />US president is also scheduled to address a crowd of villagers and visitors and meet the Prime Minister Enda Kenny on Monday morning and later attend a concert in the evening before making a speech at central Dublin's College Green, where former US President Bill Clinton addressed a crowd of tens of thousands in 1995.<br /><br />About 12 per cent of Americans claim Irish ancestry, and Ireland has welcomed several US presidents to their ancestral homes since the visit of John F Kennedy in 1963.<br /><br />Monsters & Critics reported that some cynics pointed out that Obama is only 1/32 Irish. But in Moneygall at least, in the words of a song in his honour, 'There's no one as Irish as Barack O'Bama.'<br /><br /><em>Barack Obama Is í an Ghaeilge agus an Ghaeilge grá dó sin</em>.<br /><br /><br /><em>~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima</em><br /><br /><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>SHARE PICTUREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11655196861146706362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210900598930382356.post-65767484921198662032011-05-20T04:29:00.000-07:002011-05-25T10:07:43.017-07:00"Mr. Pink" A Hot Film For Global Universal<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6RuzfGt-XXZ57DczzvT2WzfGtCmoQwjgK6_q7onMCNKrx2Kk9JYgFqP4-hyV_5k4VLtguooAVZA07_n5xJbLMt0gY85U-cxuEtCn2rMkRykVGvT4AiKwPYQtvz_f9XH-cgwulc_AUn0U/s1600/Mr.+Pink+book.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 259px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6RuzfGt-XXZ57DczzvT2WzfGtCmoQwjgK6_q7onMCNKrx2Kk9JYgFqP4-hyV_5k4VLtguooAVZA07_n5xJbLMt0gY85U-cxuEtCn2rMkRykVGvT4AiKwPYQtvz_f9XH-cgwulc_AUn0U/s400/Mr.+Pink+book.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608769800591051362" /></a><br /><br />May 19, 2011 11:42 ET<br /> <br /><br />"Mr. Pink" A Hot Film For Global Universal<br /><br />LOS ANGELES, May 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Entertainment Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB/BB: GBHL) announced today that its US Production subsidiary, Global Universal Entertainment, Inc. has optioned the motion picture and television rights to the recently published book, "Mr. Pink".<br /><br />"Mr. Pink is one hot property,"stated Daniel Sherkow, COO of Global Universal Entertainment. "Mr. Pink" is the true story of four well off college students who pulled off one of the largest heists in the art world. The valuable art books are worth over twelve million dollars!"<br /><br />Former Paramount Executive Sherkow continued, "The 'Mr. Pink' project is an exciting and compelling true story, which is featured on Google under The Transy Book Heist , and more info is at: http://www.whoismrpink.com/. It is timely, teen driven, yet bears a strong moral lesson."<br /><br />Veteran writer and film producer Jackie Giroux has adapted the screenplay from Blake Allen and Allen Brothers Publishing. Giroux will produce the picture, along with Blake Allen, Sydney Allen, and Mike Markwell, as Executive Producers. "I read the book in one sitting," exclaimed Giroux. "It is very similar to Truman Capote's In Cold Blood. If these four very different personalities had not met in college, the ingenious heist idea would have never come to fruition. They fed upon each other's talents. This will be the fascination for a great Hollywood cast, and a hit film!"<br /><br />Global Universal expects to shoot a portion of the picture in Kentucky and has begun evaluating locations within that State. In addition, Global Universal is also in conversations with distributors as it explores various distribution options.<br /><br />Gary Rasmussen, CEO of Global Universal, stated that "the 'Mr. Pink' project has the potential to add significant value to the company due to its potential 'box office appeal' and our ability to produce the picture at a comparatively reasonable cost." Mr. Rasmussen continued, "As an additional revenue stream, Global Universal will share in the proceeds of the book in addition to its participation in the motion picture".<br /><br />About Global Entertainment Holdings, Inc. (OTC: GBHL) is a publicly-held entertainment company. The Company's goal is to build a worldwide entertainment organization with a multitude of domestic and foreign production affiliates. GBHL, operating through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Global Universal Film Group, Inc., Global Universal Entertainment, Inc., and its partially-owned Canadian subsidiary Global Universal Pictures, is in the process of developing and producing a slate of motion pictures in Canada and the U.S., employing recognizable-named talent, for worldwide release. GBHL is focused on the financing and marketing of these feature-length films. GBHL, through another wholly owned subsidiary, You've Got The Part, Inc. (www.youvegotthepart.com), will attempt to capitalize on the current popularity of Hollywood and reality based programming by casting small roles online that anyone with a digital camera can apply for.<br /><br />Safe Harbor: Pursuant to the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21B of the Exchange Act of 1934, any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, goals and assumptions of future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements." Forward looking statements are based on expectations, estimates and projections at the time the statements are made that involve a number of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those presently anticipated. Forward-looking statements in this release may be identified through the use of words such as "expects," "will," "anticipates," "estimates," "believes," or statements indicating certain actions such as "may," "could," or "might" occur. Such statements reflect the current views of GBHL and its affiliated companies with respect to future events and are subject to certain assumptions, including those described in this release. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including the timely development and market acceptance and commercial appeal of its feature-length films, its film production services, competitive market conditions in the motion picture industry (both in the US and foreign markets), successful sale of the rights to film content produced, the ability to secure additional sources of financing, the ability to reduce operating expenses and other factors. The actual results that the Company achieves may differ materially from any forward-looking statements due to such risks and uncertainties. Neither Global Entertainment Holdings, nor its affiliated or subsidiary entities undertakes any responsibility to update the "forward-looking" statements contained in this news release.<br /><br />For more information, please visit us at: WWW.GLOBAL-GBHL.COM , or contact the Company by email at: contact@globaluniversal.com or 818-527-5251.<br /><br />SOURCE Global Entertainment Holdings, Inc.<br /><br /><br />Web Site: http://www.whoismrpink.com <br /><br /><br /><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>SHARE PICTUREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11655196861146706362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210900598930382356.post-20875456580606869762011-05-19T12:40:00.000-07:002011-05-25T10:07:43.017-07:00Lars von Trier says 'I'm a Nazi' and rattles Cannes<object id="swfclipV4901723" width="421" height="376" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://player.grabnetworks.com/swf/cube.swf?a=V4901723&m=1699154"><param name="movie" value="http://player.grabnetworks.com/swf/cube.swf?a=V4901723&m=1699154"/><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><param name="base" value="." /><param name="wmode" value="transparent"/><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"/></object><br /><br /><br /><strong>Cannes boots von Trier for Hitler comments</strong><br /><br />Cannes festival reacts to Danish director's strange remarks about Nazis by declaring him 'persona non grata.'<br /><br />Copyright (c) CBC 2011<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlxXb42y7Uv4zp2t0aRML8oH7sFAPtNZCk5bZyZ3a28j7vBw7_QimnsuQ1ejbE85rCb4vbiussIM8wXxhL2yuhWMV63CclXMh1-tOPnps0Pg3G88GRs1bS2hjLMZEAzbH40uPqWSaflM_g/s1600/larsvontrier.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 350px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlxXb42y7Uv4zp2t0aRML8oH7sFAPtNZCk5bZyZ3a28j7vBw7_QimnsuQ1ejbE85rCb4vbiussIM8wXxhL2yuhWMV63CclXMh1-tOPnps0Pg3G88GRs1bS2hjLMZEAzbH40uPqWSaflM_g/s400/larsvontrier.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608513194792228706" /></a><br /><strong>Lars von Trier</strong><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Cannes, please revoke the ban on Lars von Trier</span><br /><br />The controversial Danish film director and screenwriter <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lars_von_Trier">Lars von Trier</a> is well known for his provocative art films such as the horrifying Gothic and pornographic <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antichrist_(film)">Antichrist</a> that also shocked audiences at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival in 2009. Therefore, when it was reported that he has rattled the organizers of the festival at the Wednesday press parley before the premiere of his apocalyptic science fiction film <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melancholia_(2011_film)">Melancholia</a> at the 64th <a href="http://www.festival-cannes.com/en.html">Cannes Film Festival</a>, I was not surprised, because it is his signature for grabbing headlines. The organizers should have ignored his “I’M A NAZI” joke and claiming to understand <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_Hitler">Adolf Hitler</a>. He has done it again and got the whole paparazzi going gaga over his unsavoury act. And then <a href="http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/cannes-film-festival-von-trier-apologizes-for-hitler-comments-1.362591">apologized</a> after getting the attention for his his new film. Lars von Trier's shocking allusion to Adolf Hitler is another deliberate kind of <a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/deus ex machina">deus ex machina</a> and it has attracted the attention of the global village. <br /> <br />"I am not anti-Semitic or racially prejudiced in any way, nor am I a Nazi," Lars von Trier said.<br />"I really wanted to be a Jew, and then I found out that I was really a Nazi, because, you know, my family was German," von Trier said. "Which also gave me some pleasure."<br /><br />"What can I say? I understand Hitler, but I think he did some wrong things, yes, absolutely. But I can see him sitting in his bunker in the end," von Trier said. "He's not what you would call a good guy, but I understand much about him, and I sympathize with him a little bit. But come on, I'm not for the Second World War, and I'm not against Jews."<br /><br />Declaring him "persona non grata" and banning him from future Cannes is UNFAIR and HYPOCRITICAL!<br />Hello Festival de Cannes! What happened to Freedom of Expression or Free Speech which is clearly defined and stated in Articles 18 and 19 of the United Nations' <a href="http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml">Universal Declaration of Human Rights Charter</a><br /> <br /><strong>Article 18.</strong><br />Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.<br /><br /><strong>Article 19.</strong><br />Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. <br /><br />Please, the Cannes Film Festival should revoke the ban on this extraordinary radical Danish filmmaker and screenwriter, because it is reactionary and retrogressive in the further development of film-making as an art and a democratic vehicle for intellectual freedom.<br /><br /><em>~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima</em><br /><br /><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>SHARE PICTUREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11655196861146706362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210900598930382356.post-51432893230526546722011-05-19T11:38:00.000-07:002011-05-25T10:07:43.017-07:00The Tree of Life is a movie starring Brad Pitt and Sean Penn<object id="swfclipV4890523" width="421" height="376" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://player.grabnetworks.com/swf/cube.swf?a=V4890523&m=1699146"><param name="movie" value="http://player.grabnetworks.com/swf/cube.swf?a=V4890523&m=1699146"/><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><param name="base" value="." /><param name="wmode" value="transparent"/><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"/></object><br /><br />The Tree of Life is a movie starring Brad Pitt and Sean Penn. It was written and Directed by a very talented Terrence Malick. This film is a favorite for the Palme d Or in Cannes this year. It certainly is destined for a number of awards and is a beautifully made motion picture. This film is rated a MUST GO SEE IT on Celebrity Wire Movie Reviews.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time </strong><div><strong><br /></strong></div><div><strong></strong><strong>18 May 2011</strong> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> 11:26 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4616792"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4616792"> Cinema for Peace Charity Dinner With Sean Penn on 18th May 2011 at Cannes Film Festival</a> <div><br /></div><div> <!-- End Include --> <strong>17 May 2011</strong> <div><br /></div><div> 18:11 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4616128"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4616128"> UK Film Industry Pioneers Sustainability Standard Developed by BSI</a> <!-- End Include --> 14:17 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4615823"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4615823"> Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of their Family Company, Domaine Clarence Dillon, its President Unites Three of the Dillon Family's Greatest Passions in one Exquisite Piece of Furniture: Philanthropy, Art, and the Excellence of Chateau Haut-Brion</a> <!-- Display Download Types --> <!-- Display Translations --> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4615816"><img src="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/images/icons/french.gif" alt="Pour célébrer le 75ème anniversaire de la société familiale Domaine Clarence Dillon, son Président réunit trois passions de la famille Dillon dans un meuble d'exception : Le soutien d'oeuvres caritatives, l'art et l'excellence de Château Haut-Brion" border="0" /></a> <!-- Display Download Types --> <!-- Display Translations --> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4615853"><img src="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/images/icons/german.gif" alt="Zur Feier des 75. Jubiläums des Familienunternehmens, vereint Präsident Domaine Clarence Dillon drei der grössten Leidenschaften der Dillon Familie, in einem einzigen, exquisiten Möbelstück: Philanthropie, Kunst und die Exzellenz des Château Haut-Brion" border="0" /></a> <!-- Display Download Types --> <!-- Display Translations --> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4615815"><img src="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/images/icons/spanish.gif" alt="Conmemorando el 75 aniversario de su empresa familiar, Domaine Clarence Dillon, su Presidente, une tres de las grandes pasiones de la familia Dillon en una exquisita pieza de mobiliario: la filantropía, el arte y la excelencia de Château Haut-Brion." border="0" /></a><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4615815"></a>11:18 <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4615477"> </a> <a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/search.jsp?searchtype=full&option=headlines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=4615477"> Cannes 2011 Sees the Launch of All-in-One Finnish Website, Filmland.fi</a></div></div></div></div><br /><br /><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>SHARE PICTUREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11655196861146706362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210900598930382356.post-36001444983331816132011-05-19T10:56:00.000-07:002011-05-25T10:07:43.018-07:00Accredited media at ADB Pre-Annual Virtual Press Conference19 May 2011 17:40 Africa/Lagos<br /><br /><br /><strong>List of accredited media and organizations for the African Development Bank Pre-Annual Meetings Virtual Press Conference <br />held on Thursday, 19 May from 3 – 4 p.m. in Tunis.</strong><br /><br />TUNIS, May 19, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- List of accredited media and organizations for the African Development Bank Pre-Annual Meetings Virtual Press Conference held on Thursday, 19 May from 3 – 4 p.m. in Tunis.<br /><br />MEDIAS :<br /><br /><br />1. Africa Investor - South Africa<br /><br />2. Africa24 TV - France<br /><br />3. Africable Television - Mali<br /><br />4. African Press Agency (APA) - Senegal<br /><br />5. AfricaNews - DR Congo<br /><br />6. Afrique Education - France<br /><br />7. Agence France Presse (AFP) - France<br /><br />8. Alahdath Newspaper - Sudan<br /><br />9. AllAfrica - Senegal<br /><br />10. Altayar Newspaper - Sudan<br /><br />11. Alternative – Niger<br /><br />12. Arbollé FM Radio - Burkina Faso<br /><br />13. BBC Afrique - Senegal<br /><br />14. BBC World Service - Nigeria<br /><br />15. BBC World Service - United Kingdom (2 applications)<br /><br />16. BBN FM93 - Sierra Leone<br /><br />17. Bob Maijrioghene Communications - Nigeria<br /><br />18. Bukedde Newspaper - Uganda<br /><br />19. Business Daily - Kenya<br /><br />20. Business in Ghana - Ghana<br /><br />21. Carol Pineau (Freelance) - United States<br /><br />22. Channel Africa SABC - South Africa<br /><br />23. Daily News - Tanzania<br /><br />24. Daily Telegraph - South Africa<br /><br />25. Dow Jones Newswires - South Africa (2 applications)<br /><br />26. East African Business Week - Uganda<br /><br />27. Ethiopia News Agency (ENA) - Ethiopia<br /><br />28. Express FM - Tunisia<br /><br />29. Express FM - Tunisia<br /><br />30. Farm Radio International - Tanzania<br /><br />31. Freetown Television Network - Sierra Leone<br /><br />32. Fréquence Teranga FM - Senegal<br /><br />33. Ghana Business & Finance - Ghana<br /><br />34. Ghanaoilonline.org - Ghana<br /><br />35. Hadron Media - United Kingdom<br /><br />36. Hakaek Newspaper - Tunisia<br /><br />37. Hiiraan Online - Somalia<br /><br />38. Independant Pressphoto Agency (IPA) - Kenya<br /><br />39. Indicateur du Renouveau - Mali<br /><br />40. Jeune Afrique - France (2 applications)<br /><br />41. Joy FM - Ghana (2 applications)<br /><br />42. Kagadi Kibaale Community Radio - Uganda<br /><br />43. Laconscience.com - France<br /><br />44. Le Patriote - Togo<br /><br />45. Le Quotidien - Senegal<br /><br />46. Les Afriques - Maroc<br /><br />47. Les Echos - France<br /><br />48. L'Express Journal - Tunisia<br /><br />49. L'Indépendant - Mali<br /><br />50. L'Objectif - DR Congo<br /><br />51. Look-out.tv - Italy<br /><br />52. LUSA - Portuguese News Agency - Portugal (2 applications)<br /><br />53. Malagasy Press Board - Madagascar<br /><br />54. Media24 - South Africa<br /><br />55. MultimediaKom - Comoros<br /><br />56. Nation Media Group - Kenya (2 applications)<br /><br />57. Nation Publications Limited - Malawi<br /><br />58. Next Newspaper - Nigeria<br /><br />59. North Africa Journal - Canada<br /><br />60. Pamuzinda Productions - South Africa<br /><br />61. People TV - France<br /><br />62. Presse Jeune - Cameroon<br /><br />63. Prime Radio - Uganda<br /><br />64. Public Agenda - Ghana<br /><br />65. Pyramides Magazine - United Kingdom<br /><br />66. Radio Alternative Voice for Gambians - Gambia<br /><br />67. Radio Management Service - Uganda<br /><br />68. Radio Nationale Malagasy (RNM) - Madagascar<br /><br />69. Radio Simba - Uganda<br /><br />70. Radio Television Nationale Congolaise - DR Congo<br /><br />71. Radio Tygerberg - South Africa<br /><br />72. Radio West-vision Group - Uganda<br /><br />73. Rema FM - Burundi<br /><br />74. SABC News - South Africa<br /><br />75. Sayare Radio and Television - Kenya<br /><br />76. Skyy Digital Televion Ghana - Ghana<br /><br />77. Spyghana.com - Ghana<br /><br />78. Sudannews Agency - Sudan<br /><br />79. Sunni Said Salah (Freelance) - Somalia<br /><br />80. Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation - Tanzania<br /><br />81. Tanzania Standard Newspapers - Tanzania<br /><br />82. Television de la Guinée-Bissau - Guinea-bissau<br /><br />83. The 1% Solution - United States<br /><br />84. The Chronicle - Ghana<br /><br />85. The East African - Kenya<br /><br />86. The Patriotic Vanguard - United States<br /><br />87. The Post - Zambia<br /><br />88. The Sun Publishing - Nigeria<br /><br />89. Thomson Reuters - United Kingdom<br /><br />90. Tia Tanindrazana - Madagascar<br /><br />91. Ubiznews - France (2 applications)<br /><br />92. Uganda Broadcasting Corporation - Uganda<br /><br />93. Vision Media Group - Uganda<br /><br />94. Voice of Africa - Uganda<br /><br />95. Voice of Toro - Uganda<br /><br />96. www.leredacteurlibre.info - Togo<br /><br />97. www.moov.mg - Madagascar (2 applications)<br /><br /><br /><br />ORGANISATIONS :<br /><br /><br />1. Africa Practice - United Kingdom<br /><br />2. African Union/United Nations Hybrid operation in Darfur (UNAMID) - Sudan<br /><br />3. Bureau of Public Enterprises - Nigeria<br /><br />4. DS Development - France<br /><br />5. ECOWAS Commission - Nigeria<br /><br />6. Inflex Africa Technologies LTD. - Kenya<br /><br />7. International Federation of Red Cross - South Africa<br /><br />8. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) - Kenya<br /><br />9. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) - South Africa<br /><br />10. Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization – Uganda<br /><br />11. Nepad Agency – South Africa<br /><br />12. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights - Guinea Conakry<br /><br />13. Tamani Communication - Mali<br /><br />14. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) – Guinea<br /><br />15. United Nations of International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) - Tanzania<br /><br />16. World Food Programme – Italy<br /><br /><strong>Source: African Press Organization (APO)</strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>SHARE PICTUREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11655196861146706362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210900598930382356.post-33237557505509530782011-05-19T10:26:00.000-07:002011-05-25T10:07:43.018-07:00Half of Americans Unlikely to Vote to Re-Elect Barack Obama<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbHKVYdpghfZ02fdsNSv4oUeknY2IR-tMLfUphKWsdb9li_UlmG40JGDgbX_umkxrzlyr4bZWgC4eEj3YKswGl0c9KQUKmBFQqHxdp3Ju9XoOyBFNgPqYAD7glg7_VsA-P2msYbXg0t9g/s1600/Barack-Obama2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbHKVYdpghfZ02fdsNSv4oUeknY2IR-tMLfUphKWsdb9li_UlmG40JGDgbX_umkxrzlyr4bZWgC4eEj3YKswGl0c9KQUKmBFQqHxdp3Ju9XoOyBFNgPqYAD7glg7_VsA-P2msYbXg0t9g/s400/Barack-Obama2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608482908464276610" /></a><br /><strong>President Barack Obama's killing of Osama bin Laden is not enough to re-elect him</strong><br /><br />19 May 2011 16:19 Africa/Lagos<br /><br /> <br />President Obama's Job Rating Unchanged Since Early May, but Half of Americans Unlikely to Vote to Re-Elect Him<br /><br />Employment/Jobs and the Economy still most important issues for government to address<br /><br />PR Newswire<br /><br />NEW YORK, May 19, 2011<br /><br />NEW YORK, May 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- While <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/president-obama/">President Obama</a>'s job ratings may not have changed much from the gain they saw after the death of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osama_bin_Laden">Osama Bin Laden</a>, there are some shifts the White House probably should worry about as they pertain to his re-election numbers. Currently, 45% of Americans give the President positive ratings for the overall job he is doing while 55% give him negative ratings. Earlier this month, right after the death of the terrorist leader, 46% gave President Obama positive ratings and 54% gave him negative marks.<br /><br />(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100517/NY06256LOGO)<br /><br />There are two groups that give President Obama higher ratings. Among regions, 54% of Westerners give him positive marks compared to 40% of Southerners, 42% of Easterners and 44% of those in the Midwest. Almost two-thirds of those with a post graduate degree (64%) give the President positive ratings as do 49% of college graduates and half of those with some college education (50%) while just one third of those with a high school diploma or less (34%) give President Obama positive ratings.<br /><br />These are some of the results of The Harris Poll of 2,184 adults surveyed online between May 9 and 16, 2011 by Harris Interactive.<br /><br />Congress, which did not get much of a post-Osama killing bump, also hasn't seen their ratings change much in the past two weeks. Earlier in the month, 13% of Americans gave them positive ratings while 87% gave them negative ones. Now, 12% of U.S. adults give them positive marks while 88% of U.S. adults give Congress negative ratings for their overall job.<br /><br />Also slipping downward slightly is the direction of the country. Just under two in five Americans (38%) say the country is going in the right direction, down one point from earlier this month. Slightly over three in five say the country is going off on the wrong track (62%), up one point from early May. One reason for this overall sense of dissatisfaction is still the economy. One-third of Americans (33%) say that employment/jobs are one of the two most important issues for the government to address, unchanged from January. One in three U.S. adults (29%) says the most important issue is the economy overall, up from 24% who said this in January. Rounding out the top five most important issues to be addressed is healthcare (18%), the budget deficit/national debt (17%) and gas and oil prices (12% up from 1% who said this in January).<br /><br />It is this worry and concern over the economy that may be driving the numbers the White House is starting to care most about – likelihood of the American public to vote for President Obama again next November. Half of Americans (49%) say they are unlikely to vote for Barack Obama if the election for president were held today, up from 47% who said this in early May. Just over two in five Americans (43%) say they are likely to vote for him, down from 46% who said so earlier this month. Even more concerning for the re-election committee is that one in five Democrats (20%) say they are not likely to vote for the President while 7% at not at all sure.<br /><br /><strong>So What?</strong><br /><br />The death of Osama Bin Laden brought the country together, but the question was always how long would that cohesion last. So far, the overall job ratings for the President are holding steady, but at this point in the election cycle President Obama and his advisors are not just thinking about the current job he has, but of extending it for another four years. Come next November, voters will be asking themselves if they are better off than they were in 2009. If the answer isn't yes, there could be issues for the re-election chances of President Obama.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=4618638">Click here for all the details</a><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>Top Headlines</b></span></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif""><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=4618638">President Obama's Job Rating Unchanged Since Early May, but Half of Americans Unlikely to Vote to Re-Elect Him</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif""><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?packageid=1003420">Bankrate: Mortgage Rates Fall 6 Weeks in a Row</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif""><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=4618574">The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for the U.S. Declines</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif""><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=4618576">U.S. Postal Service Expands to 100,000 Locations</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif""><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=4618198">One in Eight Americans Have Contemplated Bankruptcy, Says New FindLaw.com Survey</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif""><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=4618390">Seniors Have Lost 32 Percent of Their Buying Power Since 2000</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif""><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=4618250">Increase in First Quarter 2011 Deal Activity Signals Positive Outlook for Global Industrial Manufacturing M&A, According to PwC</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif""><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=4618031">Delta, Air France KLM and Alitalia to Reduce Trans-Atlantic Capacity in Fall 2011</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif""><a href="http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?packageid=1030777">Southeastern Floods & Tornadoes</a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><br /><br /><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>SHARE PICTUREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11655196861146706362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210900598930382356.post-88206038614665502372011-05-19T10:04:00.000-07:002011-05-25T10:07:43.018-07:00Annenberg Space for Photography Announces Programming in Support of BEAUTY CULTURE<object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0" id="player-single" width="320" height="320"><param name="movie" value="http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/mnr_lib/201002/players/player-single.swf?job=50353" /><param name="allowScriptAcess" value="sameDomain" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="flashvars" value="playlistpath=annenberg/50353" /><embed src="http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/mnr_lib/201002/players/player-single.swf?job=50353" flashvars="playlistpath=annenberg/50353" quality="high" name="player-single" wmode="transparent" allowscriptaccess="sameDomain" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" width="320" height="320"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />Programming Includes Digital Films, a Virtual Makeover Salon and the IRIS Nights Lecture Series<br /><br />Los Angeles, CA (May 19, 2011) /PRNewswire/ — The Annenberg Space for Photography is offering additional programming to enrich the BEAUTY CULTURE exhibit including digital films, which expand on the themes of the exhibit; the BEAUTY CULTURE Digital Salon, where guests can experiment with virtual makeovers; and the IRIS Nights lecture series, presenting top fashion, beauty and pop culture photographers and editors.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3WOCcRU1RaPZ_1oUSrwbKX1md0Wj5cJaQc6K6eN86AbuBRq1lSYfJrvhzBI0iQhyddiq0A1F88laGbzeInIr_XorYhGYCf7TqYrJ6lz8XA7ElZNnmrjqQBvmDjwyGbLDI6CzLSNuP9YQ/s1600/Webb_Paul_Smith.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3WOCcRU1RaPZ_1oUSrwbKX1md0Wj5cJaQc6K6eN86AbuBRq1lSYfJrvhzBI0iQhyddiq0A1F88laGbzeInIr_XorYhGYCf7TqYrJ6lz8XA7ElZNnmrjqQBvmDjwyGbLDI6CzLSNuP9YQ/s400/Webb_Paul_Smith.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608476985551920594" /></a><br /><br />BEAUTY CULTURE is a photographic exploration of how feminine beauty is defined, challenged and revered in modern society. The exhibit features works from iconic photographers such as Albert Watson, Bert Stern, Herb Ritts, Man Ray, Jean-Paul Goude, ORLAN, Guy Bourdin, Horst, Melvin Sokolsky, Ellen von Unwerth, Lillian Bassman, Matthew Rolston, Philippe Halsman, Lauren Greenfield, Susan Anderson, Tyen and Carrie May Weems. BEAUTY CULTURE encourages a social dialogue about the allure and mystique of the pursuit of female beauty, as well as the cult-like glorification and multi-billion dollar industries that surround it.<br /><br />In addition to the 175 images on display in the Print Gallery, hundreds more images from the BEAUTY CULTURE photographers fill the Digital Gallery’s larger-than-life, high-resolution screens in a digital slideshow.<br /><br />The exhibition is accompanied by a short documentary film directed by acclaimed photographer and award-winning documentarian Lauren Greenfield. The digital film brings the print exhibit’s themes to life and features interviews with well-known photographers, models, historians and beauty experts who guide visitors on a fascinating photographic exploration of the culture – and cult – of beauty.<br /><br />Voice of the Photographer video segments share interviews with the exhibit’s four featured photographers – Lauren Greenfield, Melvin Sokolsky, Tyen and Albert Watson.<br /><br />The Photography Space has also created an interactive BEAUTY CULTURE Digital Salon. Guests can alter an image of themselves by changing their hair style, hair color and eye color and by applying cosmetics. They can explore the idea of the beauty of facial symmetry by applying a filter to average the two sides of their face. Visitors can then choose to email or upload to Facebook their “before” or “after” image.<br /><br />The Photography Space continues its popular weekly IRIS Nights lecture series. Visitors can hear first-hand from photographers and other professionals about their experiences in the industry and their perspectives on photography’s role in the definition of beauty. Guest speakers include Jill Greenberg, Melvin Sokolsky, Susan Anderson, Lauren Greenfield and Davis Factor, among others. The IRIS Nights lecture series takes place Thursday evenings in the Photography Space and is free to the public with advance registration. The current schedule is listed below. Additional lectures will be announced later this summer.<br /><br />BEAUTY CULTURE<br />IRIS NIGHTS LECTURE SERIES SCHEDULE<br /><br />June 2, 2011, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM<br /><br />Public Lecture: Jill Greenberg<br />Jill Greenberg will be speaking on her photographic work as it relates to the range and history of practices of aggressive feminine bodily transformation, restrictive clothing and even corporal punishment of women.<br />June 9, 2011, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM<br /><br />Public Lecture: Melvin Sokolsky<br />The prerequisites of beauty have changed over the ages. Melvin Sokolsky, one of BEAUTY CULTURE’s featured photographers, will give his personal insights on how the press and media have influenced the concept of beauty over the ages.<br />June 16, 2011, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM<br /><br />Public Lecture: Susan Anderson<br />Specializing in fashion, portraiture and conceptual/narrative work, Susan Anderson delved into the world of child beauty pageants for her book High Glitz: The Extravagant World of Child Beauty Pageants. Her work is displayed in the BEAUTY CULTURE exhibit.<br />June 23, 2011, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM<br /><br />Public Lecture: Mark Laita<br />Mark Laita has built a reputation for producing award-winning commercial work for clients including Adidas, Apple, Mercedes-Benz and MINI. Mark’s non-commercial work urges viewers to reconsider or reinforce their perception of American archetypes by exploring themes such as beauty, career, age and wealth.<br />July 14, 2011, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM<br /><br />Public Lecture: Andrew Southam<br />In a career that has spanned more than 25 years, Andrew Southam has gained an international reputation for his images of beautiful women, including some of the definitive photographs of Liv Tyler, Gwyneth Paltrow, Natalie Portman and Jewel. His work has also garnered such accolades as a Dove Award and honors from the Society of Publication Designers.<br />July 28, 2011, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM<br /><br />Public Lecture: Paul Lange<br />Photographs by New York-based photographer Paul Lange have been featured in scores of distinguished national and international publications such as Vogue, Glamour, GQ, Mademoiselle, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, British Vogue, and the New York Times. His work is displayed in the BEAUTY CULTURE exhibit.<br />September 1, 2011, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM<br /><br />Public Lecture: Davis Factor<br />Davis Factor, based in Los Angeles, has had a varied career photographing celebrities and models for prestigious fashion magazines such as Vanity Fair; advertising campaigns such as Mercedes Benz, Cartier and Maybelline; and movie studios and television networks including Paramount and Warner Bros.<br />September 15, 2011, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM<br /><br />Public Lecture: Leonard Nimoy<br />Actor, writer and photographer Leonard Nimoy has possessed a love for photography since he was a child. BEAUTY CULTURE features images from his “The Full Body Project” which uses photographs of non-classical models in a hope to foster discussions about beauty, social acceptance, culture and health.<br />September 22, 2011, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM<br /><br />Public Lecture: Kwaku Alston<br />Kwaku Alston will show a selection of his celebrity and personal portraits, as well as discuss symbols of beauty in our culture and how he responds to or draws influence from them. Alston, who is also a sought-after advertising photographer, will reflect on his experiences with how beauty is defined in the creative industry.<br />September 29, 2011, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM<br /><br />Public Lecture: Mark McKenna and David Fahey<br />Mark McKenna, Executive Director of the Herb Ritts Foundation, helps support and direct the Foundation’s two main objectives: continuing Herb’s longstanding support of HIV/AIDS research and supporting Herb’s deep passion for photography.<br /><br />David Fahey, co-owner and partner of the Fahey/Klein Gallery, wrote the introduction to Herb Ritts: The Golden Hour, a book celebrating the work of his colleague and personal friend.<br />October 6, 2011, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM<br /><br />Public Lecture: Peter Fetterman<br />Peter Fetterman has been deeply involved in the medium of photography for over 30 years. Initially a filmmaker and collector, he set up his first gallery over 20 years ago. The Peter Fetterman Gallery has one of the largest inventories of 20th century photography in the country.<br />October 20, 2011, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM<br /><br />Public Lecture: Mona Kuhn<br />Mona Kuhn's photographic work has been exhibited, and is included in public and private collections, both internationally and in the United States. Her figurative work is focused on redefining ways of looking at the body, as a residence to ourselves.<br />October 27, 2011, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM<br /><br />Public Lecture: Elaine D’Farley and Philip Gefter<br />As SELF Magazine’s beauty director, Elaine D’Farley researches the hottest brands and latest trends to create quality beauty editorial. She will be joined by photo critic David Gefter.<br />November 3, 2011, 6:30 – 8:00 PM<br /><br />Public Lecture: Lauren Greenfield<br />Named as one of the 25 most influential photographers of our time by American PHOTO, Lauren Greenfield was commissioned to create the BEAUTY CULTURE documentary film due to her extensive work capturing youth culture, body image and the effects of consumerism.<br />November 10, 2011, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM<br /><br />Public Lecture: Frank W. Ockenfels<br />Over nearly two decades, Frank Ockenfels has photographed musicians, celebrities and corporate leaders. His images have graced the covers of Rolling Stone, Esquire, Premiere, Blender, Newsweek, Wired, Entertainment Weekly, Spin, New York Magazine, and Gear and have also appeared in W, Outside, and UK Condé Nast Traveler.<br /><br />BEAUTY CULTURE runs from May 21, 2011 through November 27, 2011.<br /><br />Annenberg Space for Photography<br />2000 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles, CA 90067<br />Tel: 213.403.3000<br />http://www.annenbergspaceforphotography.org<br />Wednesday through Sunday: 11 AM-6 PM; Closed Monday and Tuesday.<br />General admission is free.<br />About the Annenberg Space for Photography<br /><br />The Annenberg Space for Photography is a cultural destination dedicated to exhibiting compelling photography. The Space conveys a range of human experiences and serves as an expression of the philanthropic work of the Annenberg Foundation and its Directors. The intimate environment features state-of-the-art, high-definition digital technology as well as traditional prints by some of the world’s most renowned and emerging photographers. The exhibits change three times a year. It is the first solely photographic cultural destination in the Los Angeles area.<br />About the Annenberg Foundation<br /><br />The Annenberg Foundation is a private family foundation that provides funding and support to nonprofit organizations in the United States and globally. Since 1989, it has generously funded programs in education and youth development; arts, culture and humanities; civic and community life; health and human services; and animal services and the environment. In addition, the Foundation and its Board of Directors are directly involved in the community with several projects that expand and complement its grant support to nonprofits. Among them are innovative nonprofit capacity building initiatives, the Annenberg Space for Photography, Explore, and the Metabolic Studio. The Annenberg Foundation exists to advance the public well-being through improved communication. As the principal means of achieving this goal, the Foundation encourages the development of more effective ways to share ideas and knowledge.<br />###<br /><br /><br />Media Contacts:<br />Tiffany Caronia<br />Evolutionary Media Group<br />323.658.8700<br />Tiffany@emgpr.com<br />Camille Lowry<br />Annenberg Foundation<br />310.209.4568<br />clowry@annenbergfoundation.org<br /><br /><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>SHARE PICTUREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11655196861146706362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210900598930382356.post-66281114014652499472011-05-16T08:42:00.000-07:002011-05-25T10:07:43.018-07:00Lindsay Lohan , Woody Allen opens Cannes and memories of Bob Marley<object id="swfclipV4883622" width="421" height="316" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://player.grabnetworks.com/swf/cube.swf?a=V4883622&m=1697146"><param name="movie" value="http://player.grabnetworks.com/swf/cube.swf?a=V4883622&m=1697146"/><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><param name="base" value="." /><param name="wmode" value="transparent"/><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"/></object><br /><br />The latest celebrity and entertainment headlines including Lindsay Lohan pleads no contest, Woody Allen opens Cannes and Bob Marley remembered.<br /><br />© 2011 Reuters Entertainment<br /><br /><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>SHARE PICTUREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11655196861146706362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210900598930382356.post-3908431916284436772011-05-16T06:40:00.000-07:002011-05-25T10:07:43.018-07:00Chivas Regal and FilmAid International Launch Global Brand Partnership in Cannes<object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0" id="player-single" width="320" height="320"><param name="movie" value="http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/mnr_lib/201002/players/player-single.swf?job=48916" /><param name="allowScriptAcess" value="sameDomain" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="flashvars" value="playlistpath=prne/chivas/48916" /><embed src="http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/mnr_lib/201002/players/player-single.swf?job=48896" flashvars="playlistpath=prne/chivas/48916" quality="high" name="player-single" wmode="transparent" allowscriptaccess="sameDomain" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" width="320" height="320"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />Chivas Regal and FilmAid International Launch Global Brand Partnership in Cannes<br /><br />FilmAid Founder Caroline Baron, FilmAid President Iliane Ogilvie Thompson and Long-time FilmAid Supporter Robert De Niro Celebrate Launch<br /><br />CANNES, France, May 16 /PRNewswire/ — Chivas Regal, the world's original luxury Scotch whisky and Official Partner of the Festival de Cannes, has announced a new global brand partnership with the charity FilmAid International.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrskPqtIqT14323f8i_PgvFdF5-_2LYaDkJvvlui4BQDsWkN6801H164zPSeL0Od2Viz19CSp_41lDZ9_kl2o3EvXyGbT177dVqwKV6qKuw6WNARx-a5TWNSu0RLmXlkT0nGKT_l0HbRAy/s1600/CarolineBaronRobertDeNiroandJamesSlack.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrskPqtIqT14323f8i_PgvFdF5-_2LYaDkJvvlui4BQDsWkN6801H164zPSeL0Od2Viz19CSp_41lDZ9_kl2o3EvXyGbT177dVqwKV6qKuw6WNARx-a5TWNSu0RLmXlkT0nGKT_l0HbRAy/s400/CarolineBaronRobertDeNiroandJamesSlack.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607309250055656642" /></a><br />Caroline Baron, Robert DeNiro and James Slack<br /><br /><br />The official launch celebration of the partnership took place in Chivas House, on the Croisette in Cannes, on Friday 13th May and was attended by FilmAid Founder Caroline Baron, FilmAid President Iliane Ogilvie Thompson and long-time supporter of FilmAid and President of the Jury of this year's Festival de Cannes, Robert De Niro.<br /><br />The partnership will see Chivas Regal and FilmAid working together to help, educate and inspire communities in need through the power of film. An initial donation of US$100,000 was made by Chivas Regal to support FilmAid projects across the world.<br /><br />FilmAid International is a humanitarian organisation that harnesses the power of film to educate and bring hope to refugees and other communities in need around the globe. Founded in 1999 during the Balkan crisis, FilmAid works in partnership with the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and other global aid organisations to bring film and video programs that inform inspire and empower to more than 1 million people.<br /><br />Chivas Regal has a history of supporting cinema, having played a starring role at many of the world's most celebrated events. Now in its third year as the Official Partner of the Festival de Cannes, Chivas Regal continues to strengthen its position in, and commitment to, cinema.<br /><br />To mark the launch, Chivas Regal commissioned Magnum Photos to create an exhibition showcasing the work of FilmAid, a selection of which is on display in Chivas House.<br /><br />James Slack, Brand Director of Chivas Regal, says, "The work of FilmAid is truly inspirational and we are delighted to support the amazing work they do around the world.<br /><br />"The partnership aligns well with values that Chivas Regal is passionate about: brotherhood, generosity, integrity and a social awareness for the world in which we live. The partnership with FilmAid provides our customers with a tangible proof-point of these values while reinforcing our commitment to film and cinema, whether it be here in Cannes or among some of the most needy communities in the world."<br /><br />Liz Manne, Executive Director of FilmAid, says, "We at FilmAid International are delighted by our new partnership with Chivas Regal. Their dedication to cinema makes them the perfect partner for FilmAid, which brings cinema to those most in need of the inspiration and education that film can provide. We look forward to developing this partnership with Chivas in the future."<br /><br /><br />For free editorial content from the FilmAid partnership launch, visit the Chivas FTP site:<br /><br /> * Click on the following link ftp.chivasincannes.com<br /> * To view this FTP site in Windows Explorer, click Page, and the click Open FTP Site in Windows Explorer.<br /> * Username: Chivas<br /> * Password: FilmAid2011<br /><br />Notes to Editors<br /><br /> * Chivas Regal is now in its third year as official supplier of the Festival de Cannes – the most exclusive and celebrated international film festival.<br /> * Chivas Regal's global brand partnership with FilmAid will see Chivas Regal provide financial support to FilmAid projects across the world.<br /> * Chivas Regal commissioned Magnum Photos photographer, Dominic Nahr, to shoot on location at a FilmAid project in Kenya. A selection of images was showcased at the launch event in Cannes.<br /><br />About Chivas Regal<br /><br /> * Chivas Regal is a truly international premium Scotch whisky brand, sold in more than 150 countries, selling over 4.2 million nine-litre cases annually.<br /> * Chivas Regal is regarded as a global luxury icon, much like the celebrated Festival de Cannes.<br /> * In addition to Cannes, which in 2011 runs from the 11th to the 22nd May, Chivas Regal has historically played a starring role at many other prestigious cinema occasions, such as the BAFTA Nominees Party, The Academy Awards, Césars in France and more recently the Asian Film Awards, of which Chivas Regal 25 is the red carpet sponsor.<br /><br />About FilmAid International<br /><br /> * FilmAid International is a non-profit organization that harnesses the power of film to reach refugees and other communities in need with messages that inspire, address critical shared needs and effect social change.<br /> * Working in refugee camps, urban slums, disaster zones and other communities in need, FilmAid's screenings provide a vital channel for conveying knowledge, empowerment and hope.<br /> * FilmAid operates two on-going programmes in Kenya: the Kakuma Refugee Camp (85,000 people) on the border of Southern Sudan and the Dadaab Refugee Camp on the border of Somalia (337,000 people). These programmes serve refugees from Sudan, Somalia, Uganda, Rwanda, Congo, Burundi and Ethiopia. FilmAid also works with challenged communities within Kenya, including the Mathare and Kibera Slums. In late 2009, FilmAid started working with Burmese refugees in Thailand, and in 2010 began work with Internally Displaced Persons in Haiti, following the devastating earthquake.<br /><br /> For more information, please contact:<br /> Astrid Froment<br /> International Marketing Manager – Chivas Regal<br /> Tel: +44 (0)20 8250 1658 I / Mobile: +44 (0)7810 630 737<br /> astrid.froment@pernod-ricard.com<br /><br /> Jennie Norrish<br /> Head of PR – Chivas Brothers<br /> Tel: +44 (0) 208 250 1739 / Mobile: +44 (0) 7717 450 023<br /> jennie.norrish@ pernod-ricard.com<br /><br /> Vanessa Jerrom/ Claire Vorger<br /> French/International PR<br /> Tel: +33 (0)1 42 97 42 47 / VJ Mobile: +33 (0) 6 14 83 88 82/ CV Mobile: +33 (0) 6 20 10 40 56<br /> vanessajerrom@wanadoo.fr<br /><br /> Nick Gower<br /> Senior Account Manager – Brand Rapport<br /> Tel: +44 (0) 20 7932 5845 / Mobile: +44 (0) 7786 622 000<br /> ngower@brand-rapport.com <br /><br /><br /><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>SHARE PICTUREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11655196861146706362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210900598930382356.post-21361133829537439092011-05-16T06:17:00.000-07:002011-05-25T10:07:43.019-07:00Open Invitation to the Members of the Press: New Social Network,16 May 2011 13:20 Africa/Lagos<br /><br /> <br />Open Invitation to the Members of the Press: New Social Network, New Opportunities - PrimeHangout.com<br /><br />PR Newswire<br /><br />PHILADELPHIA, May 16, 2011<br /><br />PHILADELPHIA, May 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- PrimeHangout, a subsidiary of ClinicTools, Inc. in Philadelphia, PA, is pleased to invite the media to the launching of a new social network popularly known as PrimeHangout.com. The launching, as declared by Henry I. Balogun, founder and CEO, is scheduled to take place at Kirby Auditorium, National Constitution Center, 525 Arch Street, Independence Mall, Philadelphia, PA 19106 on June 10, 2011 at 11:00 am.<br /><br />"Inspiration behind the establishment of PrimeHangout came out of the desire to create a better platform designed to take connecting with the outside world to a new height," said Henry Balogun. "Our goal is to give people something socially rewarding, financially beneficial, and historically inspiring.<br /><br />"At http://www.primehangout.com, we make it possible for individuals to showcase creativity - a place for business to increase exposure, thereby generating effective business leads and for vacation destinations to let the world know where people can come to learn, enjoy historical value, relax and unwind."<br /><br />PrimeHangout.com is divided into three major sections:<br /><br />1. Individual User section is for creating connections with people locally, nationwide as well as worldwide.<br /><br /> * Genealogy, embedded in the individual user section is designed to help you discover your roots, the people you are connected with by birth and the origin of your humanity.<br /><br /><br />2. Business User section is designed to help you build a solid, dependable and highly beneficial client base. The time has come to use the power of social networking to increase business as well as the bottom line.<br /><br />3. Vacation Destination section is designed to assist you in your quest to find a place to relax, and enjoy the rich diversities of culture as well as historical places of interest all around the world.<br /><br />"Each section is equipped with a way to upload pre-recorded video or live show, thereby communicate effectively with your contacts, audience and friends. Users can use their respective business wall to make presentations, show product demos and generate leads. Our chat module makes it easier to have one-on-one or group chat with friends or business contacts."<br /><br />Henry Balogun declared that "during this launching, we are going to unveil, thereby make available the first Internet Mall (like the mall in your city) where individuals and businesses can actually open stores, sell and make money. We are also ready to present to the world the first cross-platform EMR/Healthcare Management System ever developed."<br /><br />PrimeHangout is committed to innovative ideas including ongoing improvements and new functionalities. "We have developed a PrimeHangout App for the iPhone, iPad, iPod and Android-based Smartphone. Use it to make new friends, connect and chat with existing friends, or organize and announce an event at the speed of light - the communication platform of the future is here. Kindly register your intent to attend by sending a message to phpressrelease@mednetservices.com," said Balogun.<br /><br />Contact:<br /><br />Henry I. Balogun, Ph.D., Chairman/CEO<br />Mobile Phone: (215) 704-8223<br />Email: hbalogun@mednetservices.com<br /><br />This press release was issued through eReleases(R). For more information, visit eReleases Press Release Distribution at http://www.ereleases.com.<br /><br />SOURCE ClinicTools, Inc.<br /><br />Web Site: http://www.primehangout.com <br /><br /><br /><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>SHARE PICTUREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11655196861146706362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210900598930382356.post-38341601892138512462011-05-16T06:04:00.000-07:002011-05-25T10:07:43.019-07:00Judicial Watch demands proof of the death of Osama bin Laden<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtjPx3d8MoZwi1mKWbhSC0FSaneTyjv1gsUuenI5jNHBTZnj5zHieTz5qVBMuv_fGWw-muBvpkUtm-z-RIDvGtHv-FlV-bKCbQgVQqExgUFdRmwzvLahz7HqJjmyUwN43BXb1PNLsZVEmO/s1600/usman+bin+laden.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtjPx3d8MoZwi1mKWbhSC0FSaneTyjv1gsUuenI5jNHBTZnj5zHieTz5qVBMuv_fGWw-muBvpkUtm-z-RIDvGtHv-FlV-bKCbQgVQqExgUFdRmwzvLahz7HqJjmyUwN43BXb1PNLsZVEmO/s400/usman+bin+laden.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607296292149539554" /></a><br /><br />Judicial Watch Announces Freedom of Information Act Lawsuit Seeking bin Laden Photos and Videos<br /><br />PR Newswire<br /><br />WASHINGTON, May 13, 2011<br /><br />WASHINGTON, May 13, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, announced today that it has filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the Department of Defense (DOD) seeking "all photographs and/or video recordings of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osama_bin_Laden">Osama (Usama) bin Laden</a> taken during and/or after the U.S. military operation in Pakistan on or about May 1, 2011" (Judicial Watch v. DOD (No. 1:11-cv-00890) (JEB)).<br /><br />Judicial Watch <a href="http://www.judicialwatch.org/files/documents/2011/dod-osama-op-foia-request-05042011.pdf">filed a FOIA request with the DOD</a> on May 3.<br /><br />Under the Freedom of Information Act, the DOD has 20 business days legally to respond. Rather than follow the law, the DOD has stated:<br /><br />At this time, we are unable to make a release determination on your request within the 20-day statutory time period.<br /><br />Judicial Watch filed an identical FOIA request with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) on May 4. The CIA has yet to acknowledge or respond to the request.<br /><br />"The American people have a right to know, by law, basic information about the killing of Osama bin Laden. Incredibly, the <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/president-obama/">Obama administration</a> told us that it has no plans to comply with the Freedom of Information law, so we must now go to court. President Obama's not wanting to 'spike the football' is not a lawful basis for withholding government documents. This historic lawsuit should remind the Obama administration that it is not above the law," said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.<br /><br />Visit www.judicialwatch.org to view Judicial Watch's Freedom of Information requests.<br /><br />Founded in 1994, Judicial Watch Inc. is a constitutionally conservative, nonpartisan educational foundation that promotes transparency, accountability and integrity in government, politics and the law. JW is perhaps the most active FOIA request or and litigator operating today.<br /><br />SOURCE Judicial Watch<br /><br />CONTACT: Jill S. Farrell, Director of Public Affairs, Judicial Watch Inc., +1-202-646-5188<br /><br />Web Site: http://www.judicialwatch.org <br /><br /><br />Related Report:<br /><br /><a href="http://globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=15153">Dead or Alive? Osama bin Laden: A Marketing Tool for US-NATO Military Operations</a> by Elizabeth Woodworth<br /><br /><br /><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>SHARE PICTUREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11655196861146706362noreply@blogger.com0