Thursday 31 January 2013

HOW TO SURVIVE A PANEL INTERVIEW

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If your palms start to sweat before a one-on-one interview, you can imagine the nerves that come when a potential employer says you’ll be meeting with not one, but four people—all at the same time!
Four-on-one hardly seems fair—that means four times the interviewers, asking four times the rapid-fire questions. But fair or not, it’s best to be prepared—“interview by firing squad” is a common way for companies to speed up their hiring process, not to mention see how candidates will react in a group setting.
Yes, building a rapport with multiple evaluators is that many times harder than connecting with just one—but it’s definitely possible. Here are a few survival tips for your next panel interview.

Know Who’s Firing Questions at You

Typically, your panel of interviewers will represent multiple areas of the company, so each representative will consider you through a different lens. For example, if you’re interviewing at a tech company for a project management role, your panel might include the department manager (your potential direct supervisor), an HR manager, and team leads from the engineering and marketing departments,

SYRIA ATTACK: WILL IRAN RETALIATE ISRAEL?

Shouting condemnation and promises of retaliation, Syria, Iran and Hezbollah on Thursday condemned Israel's decision to send warplanes into Syria, calling its airstrike a day before "inhuman" and "barbaric."
Russia also condemned Wednesday's attack, saying it would represent an unprovoked violation of United Nations charter if confirmed.
Syria's Foreign Ministry summoned the commander of U.N. forces in the Golan Heights on Thursday to formally complain about the incident, while Iran's deputy foreign minister, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, warned the attack would have "dire consequences" for Israel, according to Iran's semiofficial Mehr News Agency.
Just last week, Abdollahian warned that Iran would consider any attack on Syria as an attack on itself, Mehr reported at the time.

Meanwhile, a U.S. official said reports that

BYE BYE MR BALOTELLI


Mario Balotelli was mobbed by fans outside a restaurant as he returned home to Italy ahead of completing his reported $30 million move tom AC Milan from Manchester City. 
Fireworks going off inside his own house, a car crash in his first week at Manchester City, throwing a dart at a youth team player and that iconic image of a t-shirt adorned with the words, "Why always me?"
The English Premier League will miss the crazy antics of Mario Balotelli.
The 22-year-old has returned to Italy after signing a four-and-a-half-year deal with AC Milan following an action-packed spell with a club he last season helped end a 44-year wait for the league title.He has struggled to regain the form that took Italy to the final of Euro 2012, where he was the tournament's joint top scorer with three goals.

"I didn't start the season very well with City so I am coming to Milan to revive myself and to do well," said the Italy striker, who has completed a return to Serie A in a deal said to be worth around $30 million.
"I have wanted to play for Milan for a long time, but I was with other teams. When this chance came along I grabbed it. I hope Milan can become a big club again."
Balotelli was welcomed to the San Siro on Thursday's

I AM NOT DEAD!-----JACKIE CHAN

Hollywood star Jackie Chan has assured his fans that contrary to his death rumours online, he is alive and well.

The actor is the latest celebrity to join the rank of celebrities who have been killed online. The other stars, who had to fight their death on the world wide web are Johnny Depp, Harrison Ford and Miley Cyrus.

"Jackie is alive and well. He did not suffer a heart attack and die, as was reported on many social networking sites and in online news reports," the star posted a note on his Facebook page.

Chan, 56, is working hard, however, continues the note: "Jackie is fine and is busy preparing for the filming of his next movie."

The Rush Hour star has also uploaded a photo of himself dated March 29 on his website showing him meeting with top Japanese officials, to convince the skeptics.

Wednesday 30 January 2013

PROTEST OVER N750,000 JUDGEMENT BEGINS

The National association of Nigerian Students, former member of the house, Honaurable Dino Melaye including prominent people joined in the protest yesterday against the judgement delivered by justice Abubakar Telba of the federal high court seated in Abuja, on the stolen Police pension fund by Director Yussuf. Yussuf was asked to forfeit his 32 landed properties in Abuja and Gombe and sentences to 2years imprisonment with an option of N750,000.

This controversial judgement was seen as a mockery to the entire nation especially the judiciary system. This led to bombardment of CJN office, Justice Alooma Mukhtar by the protesters. The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Alooma Mukhtar, has promised that the National Judicial Council (NJC)  will look into the controversy surrounding the questionable judgement delivered by Justice Abubakar Talba of the Abuja High Court in the conviction of a self-confessed pension thief, Yakubu Yusufu.

Also, in the quest to get a true judgement, The EFCC has re-ordered a fresh arrest of the formal director. He was re -arraigned before the court yesterday and was asked to be remanded at Kuje prison till tommorrow, March 1st,  when the trial would commence newly.

MALALA TO RECEIVE PLATE IN HER SKULL

Malala Yousafzai was glad to hear that her long ordeal of surgeries will soon be over. Just two more to go, doctors in Britain say. Hopefully.
She will receive a titanium plate in the coming days, to cover an opening in her skull, and an inner ear implant.

A gunman shot the teenage activist in the head and neck in October as she rode home from school in Pakistan's Swat Valley.
Islamist extremists from Tehrik-e-Taliban intended to kill her for taking a stand for the right of girls to get an education. The terrorists have said they will target her again.

The 15-year-old's brain swelled dangerously days after the shooting, so doctors in Pakistan extracted a section of her skull about the size of a hand. Otherwise, the pressure in her cranium would have caused severe brain damage, likely killing her.
"There is no doubt that the surgery performed in Pakistan was life-saving," Dr. Dave Rosser, medical director of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, UK, said Wednesday at a news conference.
Malala has made impressive strides and

Tuesday 29 January 2013

HOW TO DEFINE PROSPERITY AS AN ENTREPRENUER

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When you work for someone else, as I did for many years before starting my own small business, there is typically some pre-defined idea of what it means to be successful. There’s one way to climb the corporate ladder. One way to get a promotion. A set number of months or years before you’re eligible for the next position. No matter the job or corporation or enterprise, there are certain markers that must be met in order to move forward.
As an entrepreneur, however, you have the luxury of thinking differently about prosperity. While there are many things about being an entrepreneur that are challenging (weathering extreme business ups and downs, spearheading projects that others doubt, figuring out how to make a sustainable revenue, to name a few), the freedom to define prosperity in your own, individualized way is really something to savor.
In this spirit, I want to share three simple ways to define, take charge of, and enjoy your own prosperity, starting today.

1. Define Prosperity Up Front

As part of your business model or plan, articulate a clear definition of what it means to you to be prosperous. Do you value making money? Having free time? The ability to travel? A flexible work schedule? I am involved in various small business communities

Monday 28 January 2013

WE NEED LOTS OF GOALS--KESHI


The Super Eagles must beat Ethiopia at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium to ensure their progression from Group C, with previously unfancied Burkina Faso and reigning champions Zambia occupying the top spots going into the third round of group games.
Nigeria were held to draws by both nations and Keshi remains wary of Ethiopia's potential to spring a surprise, especially considering Cape Verde's shock win over Angola last night.
He told Nigerian newspaper Vanguard: "I am very impressed with what I have seen so far. You can no longer differentiate so much between which teams are better.
"In the old days you could predict how many goals one team was going to score against the other but now you don't know what is going to happen.
"You might think one side will win but you don't know. I think this is wonderful for African football.
"The competition is so tight, you look at the likes

BLACKBERRY 10 ABOUT TO BE UNFOLDED

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RIM is set to officially unveil BlackBerry 10 in only two more days. With the new operating system and smartphone hardware set to go official later this week, new rumors have surfaced ahead of the official launch. According to one of the new rumors, people interested in BlackBerry 10 could expect a more reasonable price.


Previous rumors indicated that the BlackBerry Z10 smartphone running the new operating system would be available for $799 without a SIM card. That price was tipped by a leaked screenshot claimed to come from Best Buy Canada. The latest rumor is based on a leaked screenshot claim to be from the Carphone Warehouse.
The second screenshot says that the white BlackBerry

THE LETTER FROM BOKOHARAM LEADER ON CEASE-FIRE. A MUST READ


“I am appealing and calling on all our members through this medium to lay down their arms henceforth, till further notice,” Abdulazeez stated.
On the wanton killings, especially the slaughtering of eight people in Gajigana town of Magumeri Local Council of Borno State on Sunday and burning of public buildings, he disassociated Boko Haram from the acts, insisting that the atrocities were committed by criminals hiding under the guise of Boko Haram.
Abdulazeez’s comments read in part: “I am Sheikh Muhammed Abdulazeez Ibn Idris, the second Commander in-charge of Southern and Northern Borno after Imam Abubakar Shekau of Jamaatul Ahjlil Sunna lidawati wal Jihad, otherwise known as Boko Haram.
We the members of Jamaatul ahlil sunna lidawati wal jihad otherwise known as Boko Haram recently had a meeting and dialogue with the government of Borno State where we resolved that giving the prevailing situation, there is the need for us to cease fire.
We, on our own, in the top hierarchy of our movement under the leadership of Imam Abubakar Shekau, as well as some of our notable followers agreed that our brethren in Islam, both women and children are suffering unnecessarily; hence we resolved

5 STEPS TO MAKE YOUR COVER LETTER STAND OUT

You’ve found the perfect job, your resume and references are all lined up and ready to go, and now there’s just one thing standing between you and hitting “send” on the application: the dreaded cover letter.
Very few people actually enjoy writing cover letters (and if you do, please share your secrets). Even if you know the basics (one page, 4-6 paragraphs), it can be tough to dissect what, exactly, an employer is looking for and how to translate that into a few hundred glowing words.
But not only are cover letters inevitable, they’re also extremely important—it’s the only space you have outside your resume to make a good first impression. So if you want to land the job, you should be giving that letter the attention it deserves. Follow these tips, and make your next cover letter stand out from the rest of the stack.

1. Be All About Them

A career counselor once said to me, “say not what the company can do for you, say what you can do for the company.” Although you certainly want to explain why

CLUBING TURNED SORROW IN BRAZIL AS 233 DIED

Flames raced through a crowded nightclub in southern Brazil early Sunday, killing more than 230 people as panicked partygoers gasped for breath in the smoke-filled air, stampeding toward a single exit partially blocked by those already dead. It appeared to be the world’s deadliest nightclub fire in more than a decade.
Witnesses said a flare or firework lit by band members started the blaze in Santa Maria, a university city of about 225,000 people, though officials said the cause was still under investigation.
Television images showed smoke pouring out of the Kiss nightclub as shirtless young men who had attended a university party joined firefighters using axes and sledgehammers to pound at windows and walls to free those trapped inside.
Guido Pedroso Melo, commander of the city’s fire department, told the O Globo newspaper that firefighters had a hard time getting inside the club because

Friday 25 January 2013

TEARS AS THE 2010 INDEPENDENCE DAY BOMBING ACCOMPLICE WAS SENTENCED FOR LIFE

As it is always said, that, many days for thief but one day for the owner. Tears filled the entire court room yesterday as the accomplice(Edmond Ebiwere) to Henry Okah who masterminded the October 1st 2010 bombing in Abuja, which led to the death of about a dozen of people and many left with various degrees of injuries, was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Abuja based Federal High Court . This judgement came  barely 48hours After the chief master minder of the independence day bombing, Mr Henry Okah, was found guilty of the entire 13-count charge in South Africa. Mr Henry Okah's judgement is due on the 31st of this month(January) which also carries  a life sentence as well.

ROCKET LAUNCH: WHO WINS? UN OR NORTH KOREA?

North Korea has responded to new Security Council sanctions condemning its December 12 rocket launch with a declaration that it plans a third nuclear test and more missile launches. Politically, it has made unambiguous that its "aim" is its enemy, the United States.
In this rapid reaction to U.N. sanctions, the young government of Kim Jong Un underscores what Security Council members have long known anticipated from the DPRK. Their end-game is to create a vibrant, integrated missile and nuclear weapons program that will result - as in the cases of Pakistan and India - in their being recognized as a new nuclear nation by fait accompli.


In light of DPRK defiance - and a soon to occur nuclear test - the Security Council's first set of sanctions on North Korea since 2009 may seem

COMMON MISTAKES A LADY MUST AVOID ON HER FIRST DATE




BY TUNDE ADENUGA

A date in its simple context is just a particular time set aside by two or more parties to share, carry or improve a common or intending interest. So, it is not an avenue for an unnecessary and careless disposition of information except if it is extremely important. That is why you can’t really say much about a person just on the account of one or two appointments/dates. This is because; most of the things we express at that point in time are just the real good sides of us. Everybody wants to impress the other person just as the way it happens in any animal kingdom. A guy that is naturally aggressive and cruel suddenly turns into a dove. While the lady that lives in the ghetto begins to display some attributes of someone who resides in Buckingham Palace. So, over 50% of what we display at any date venue are usually unreliable. Despite that, there are some major flaws you must not make on your first date as a lady. 

KEEP TO TIME: Nothing breaks a lady’s defense than starting a date with apology. Keep to time. It is not a sign of anxiety or desperation as some quarters (immature guys) might have perceived. It is actually a symbol of

Thursday 24 January 2013

US ARMY:WOMEN SET TO JOIN THE COMBAT TROOPS


From left, Marines Sgt. Sheena Adams and Lance Cpl. Kristi Baker and Navy Hospital Corpsman Shannon Crowley work with a Female Engagement Team in Afghanistan in November 2010.

For women who have already seen combat, it is a decision that is well overdue. But for the skeptics, it is a setback that will damage the military.
The Pentagon's reported decision to lift the ban on women in combat units will take time to put into effect, but many former service members are lauding reports that the Defense Department will make the change soon.
"We have an all-volunteer force, and I think that this opens up a pool of folks who could serve in these positions," said Rep. Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq War veteran who lost both legs and the use of one arm when her helicopter crew was shot down in 2004.

THERE IS A LIMIT FOR YOUR DEPOSIT--CBN TELLS ACCOUNT HOLDERS

In an effort to control the economy effectively and to reduce the level of stealing of public funds, the CBN has issued a policy to every account holder in the country.The policy pegs a maximum single deposit amount of N20,000 and maximum cumulative balance of N200,000 at any point in time on the Low Value Account. It also places a maximum single deposit of N50,000 and a maximum cumulative balance of N400,000 on the Medium Value Account. However for the High Value Account, no limit is placed on cumulative balance.
The policy also categorised bank customers into Low Value Accounts (Level One); Medium Value Accounts (Level two) and High Value Accounts (Level three).
A circular to all banks and other financial institutions (OFIs) signed by CBN Director, Financial Policy and Regulation, Chris Chukwu, explained that the

Wednesday 23 January 2013

OUR NEW ROCKET CAN STRIKE THE US--NORTH KOREA

North Korea said Thursday that it plans to carry out a new nuclear test and further long-range rocket launches, all of which it said are a part of a new phase of confrontation with the United States.
The North's National Defense Commission said the moves would feed into an "upcoming all-out action" that would target the United States, "the sworn enemy of the Korean people."
Carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency, the defense commission statement followed a United Nations Security Council resolution on Tuesday that condemned North Korea's recent rocket launch and expanded existing sanctions.

North Korea, which often issues bellicose statements in its state media, said Thursday that it rejected all Security Council resolutions concerning it.
It described this week's resolution as "the most dangerous

CNN AMANPOUR INTERVIEWS PRESIDENT JONATHAN. A MUST READ!

In her testimony to Congress on Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton cited jihadist group Boko Haram as part of the broader Islamic militant threat in Africa.
Clinton said that the West-African group, whose name means "Western education is sinful" is a major threat to Nigeria – Africa’s largest oil exporter.
In an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour on Wednesday, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan agreed that Boko Haram could pose an existential threat to his country.
“If Boko Haram is not contained, it would be a threat not only to Nigeria, but to

OBAMA: HIS OPEN STAND FOR GAY BROTHERS


"Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well."
That was the first time the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community was mentioned in inaugural address."We, the people, declare today that the most evident of truths -- that all of us are created equal -- is the star that guides us still; just as it guided our forebears through Seneca Falls, and Selma, and Stonewall."
In mentioning Stonewall, with not only the nation, but the world watching, Obama gave more than a passing acknowledgment to a group of people who were instrumental to his re-election.
He stopped, looked us in the eyes, and said: I see you.

Maybe if you've never had to worry about not

Tuesday 22 January 2013

WHY YOU WE COULDN'T SHOW LIVE MATCHES FOR NIGERIANS

According to the Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku“it is necessary for Nigeria to call their bluff because they were not willing to bring down the price despite efforts by the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON)
“All efforts made by BON through the agent LC2 did not work. From eight million euros, they came to six million then 4.5 million Euro; so you can see that it is not a scientific charge, it is a kind of casino pricing.
“BON decided that this year, Nigeria should call the bluff of this agent and maybe next time the Confederation of African Football will be more sensitive

WHY BEYONCE OPTED FOR A PRE-RECORDING AT THE INAUGURATION

Pop star Beyoncé opted to use a "pre-recording" of her rendition of the National Anthem during inaugural ceremonies in Washington Monday, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Marine Band told CNN Tuesday.
U.S. Marine Band spokeswoman Kristen DuBois said early Tuesday that "we know why the decision was made," adding that the pop star "did not actually sing," but instead lip-synched her own voice.

Later in the day, however, the Marine Corps said in a statement that no one in their organization "is in a position to assess whether [Beyoncé's vocal performance] was live or pre-recorded."
The conflicting reports from the Marines have yet to be

3 THINGS THAT WILL GET YOUR RESUME THROWN IN THE TRASH

You know all about getting your resume noticed. (Clean layout! Accomplishments, not duties!) But do you know what’s on the flip-side? What you might be doing that could cause recruiters to overlook your resume—or worse, toss it in the trash?
Gasp! The trash? I know what you’re thinking, but the truth is, recruiters have dozens, even hundreds, of resumes to comb through every day. So, in an effort to cull them down to a reasonable amount, they’ll simply toss any that don’t meet what they’re looking for.
To learn more, I sat down with a few recruiters and asked them about the resumes that make the cut and those that get tossed. Here are three of their deal-breakers.

1. You Don’t Meet the Basic Requirements

First and foremost, review the requirements listed in the job description and confirm that you have the skills and experience the recruiter is looking for. This is the “first knockout factor” for many, says Christina Lord, a technical recruiter at Dealer.com. “Make sure you look at the requirements before applying to the job, and identify if your skills are a match,” she says.
Sounds basic, but job seekers make this mistake more often than you might think, thanks to career counselors and advice websites that say

THE VICTORY OF NATANYAHU AND THE FATE OF IRAN

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's party got the most votes in Israel's national election Tuesday, but a respectable showing by centrists could halt a rightward swing in the government.
Netanyahu's Likud Beitenu won 31 Knesset seats in the Israel election, according to three TV exit polls, gaining the most as expected. Jewish Home, an extreme right party with a charismatic leader named Naftali Bennett, got 12 seats.
But the centrists and leftists attracted waves of voters displeased with, among other things, Israel's high cost of living, and more supportive of talks with Palestinians. At first glance, the initial result reflects a politically polarized electorate, with possibly an edge to the rightists.
Yossi Beilin, a politician who is staunchly in the peace camp and one of the chief architects of the Israeli-Palestinian peace initiative called the Oslo

LASU STUDENT, MAUSI HUNGAH FINALLY LAID TO REST

It was a tragic and unforgettable incident that befell the entire Lagos State University Ojo and the family(Who resides somewhere in Amuwo Odofin, Lagos) of a young and beautiful girl, Miss Mausi Hunjah, who was knocked down at the entrance of the school gate on Saturday. It was said, that, the young girl of 20, was going for a tutorial in the school. So, in her effort to cross the ever busy road, she was hit by a commercial bus, popularly known as Danfo, which was coming against the traffic.

All effort to save the young girl's life by people around including the school authority yielded no result. She eventually gave up the ghost at the Ikeja Hospital about 5pm after she was initially taken to a hospital at Igando. This incident that happened about 3pm led to the immediate protest by some students of the school. The driver of the bus was said to have been arrested by the police.
From an unconfirmed source, we heard that the LASU community declared a 3-day mourning for the young girl who was buried today. May her soul rest in perfect peace.And may the Lord give her family and loved ones the fortitude to bear this great loss.

Miss Mausi Hunjah was a 200 level, chemistry student of the Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos.

FASHION LESSON FROM MICHELLE OBAMA


For Inauguration Night, Michelle Obama wore a ruby-colored chiffon and velvet gown by Jason Wu, the same designer who made her 2009 inaugural dress. Known for her continuous support of emerging designers, the first lady essentially made the Taiwanese-born American designer a household name in 2009 by wearing his dress. 
It's tempting to dismiss Michelle Obama's wardrobe as a topic so frivolous that it shifts the public gaze from its rightful focus on the first lady's efforts to reduce childhood obesity or put healthy eating on the national agenda. But if there's one thing we can learn from her panache for mixing patterns or flair for pairing Talbot dresses and designer shades, it's that fashion doesn't have to be frivolous.
"She's someone who has proven that you can care about looking great, and take risks in that regard, and also be an incredibly well-spoken, intelligent person who takes action and gets behind issues," said Leah Chernikoff, managing editor of style blog Fashionista.com.
As she stands on the brink of another four years as first lady, her leadership and values should get more attention than the ease with which she transitions from slacks and cardigans to cutting-edge designer gowns. But to minimize the influence of her sartorial choices deprives the rest of us of an opportunity to learn from them, fashion consultants say.

In an image-conscious society, Michelle Obama

Monday 21 January 2013

I KILLED INSURGENTS ON MY LATEST TOUR--BRITISH PRINCE HARRY

Photos: Prince Harry through the years
Britain's Prince Harry has acknowledged that he killed Taliban insurgents on his latest tour of duty in Afghanistan as a crew member of an Apache attack helicopter.
Harry has been serving for four months as a co-pilot gunner (CPG) in southern Helmand province -- considered a Taliban heartland -- and flew on scores of missions with the trigger to rockets, missiles and a 30mm cannon at his fingertips.
No one is saying how many insurgents Harry might have killed but toward the end of his deployment, the 28-year-old, known to his comrades as Captain Wales, shared some of his feelings about combat with reporters while on duty in the massive military base

BARAK OBAMA 2013 INAUGURAL SPEECH TRANSCRIPT. A MUST READ!

Today we continue a never-ending journey, to bridge the meaning of those words with the realities of our time. For history tells us that while these truths may be self-evident, they have never been self-executing; that while freedom is a gift from God, it must be secured by His people here on Earth. The patriots of 1776 did not fight to replace the tyranny of a king with the privileges of a few or the rule of a mob. They gave to us a Republic, a government of, and by, and for the people, entrusting each generation to keep safe our founding creed.
For more than two hundred years, we have.
Through blood drawn by lash and blood drawn by sword, we learned that no union founded on the principles of liberty and equality could survive half-slave and half-free. We made ourselves anew, and vowed to move forward together.

Together, we determined that a modern economy requires railroads and highways to speed travel and commerce; schools and colleges to train our

6 REASONS WHY WAR MUST GO ON IN MALI

Within the past few days, French combat forces have deployed to the West African state of Mali to halt the advance of militant Islamist fighters toward the capital and to help the Malian army begin to reclaim towns previously occupied by the militants. After intense airstrikes against rebel strongholds, French ground forces are moving north to try to dislodge the fighters.
Mali is one of the poorest countries in Africa, a vast and sparsely populated land that is largely desert. But events there are being watched with growing anxiety throughout West Africa, in European capitals and in Washington. Why?
1) Location, location, location
Mali is hardly a regional powerhouse and is "marginal" to the world economy. It does not sit on lakes of oil; it is landlocked and desperately poor. But it is very
big -- nearly twice the size of France -- with seven neighbors

SOUTH AFRICAN COURT CONVICTS HENRY OKAH

A SOUTH African court on Monday found Henry Okah guilty of masterminding the 2010 car bombing which killed 12 people.
Okah was convicted of 13 counts related to acts of terrorism.
He was arrested in Johannesburg a day after two car bombs exploded during the 50th anniversary of Nigeria's independence.
He had denied the charges, even though his militant group, Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), said it had carried out the attack.
Johannesburg High Court Judge Neels Claassen convicted Okah on charges ranging from conspiracy to commit terrorism to detonating explosives.
"I have come to the conclusion that the state proved beyond reasonable doubt the guilt of the accused," Judge Claassen said, AFP news agency reports.
Prosecutor Shaun Abrahams told AP news agency that Okah faced life in prison.
South Africa worked closely with foreign

5 PUBLIC SPEAKING TIPS FOR ENTREPRENEURS

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For most of us, public speaking can be incredibly nerve-wracking. What if you mess up? What if no one claps? What if someone asks you a question you don’t know the answer to? What if you throw up on stage? (Seriously, you should at least stop worrying about that one.)
But with the right preparation, public speaking doesn’t have to be such a daunting, fretful experience. The chance to strut your stuff and raise awareness for your brand is actually really exciting, especially if you’re a young company looking to introduce your expertise—and offering—to the world.
Here, we outline five steps to take before you get up on that stage to make sure you most genuinely connect with your audience, get your point across in the time allotted, and (most importantly) don’t pass out.

1. Practice, Practice, Practice

The benefits of this old adage are twofold. First, becoming comfortable with the material you’ll be delivering will ease your nerves—after reading your speech

Saturday 19 January 2013

7 LESSONS TO LEARN FROM THE FALL OF ARMSTRONG

Photos: Lance Armstrong over the years
The fairy tale of a cancer survivor from Austin, Texas, who beat the odds to win the Tour de France a record seven times, has metamorphosed into a parable about telling a lie.
Lance Armstrong has been revealing in his two-part exclusive interview with Oprah Winfrey Thursday and Friday night, but critics say he is leaving out important details.
There has been a lot to learn from Armstrong and from those watching him as he starts to tell the truth.

Getting caught is just the beginning.
This is the reason for his confession. After retiring from the Tour in 2005, he made a comeback in 2009.
"We wouldn't be sitting here if I didn't come back," Armstrong told Winfrey.
Cycling colleague Floyd Landis went public in 2010 with his own doping and leveled allegations at Armstrong as well. This eventually led to investigations against Armstrong.

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, which tests Olympic

Friday 18 January 2013

OPINION: HOW OPRAH GOT ARMSTRONG TALKING IN THE FIRST MINUTE

She got Lance Armstrong to confess in the first minute.It was a curiously unemotional moment, the prosecutor leading the witness through what seemed like well-rehearsed paces in a businesslike fashion.
Armstrong said he was sorry for all the years of lying, but he sounded like he was reading a shopping list. He may have been wearing a lavender shirt that complemented Oprah's violet dress, but the disgraced cycling champion was anything but colorful.
On her cable channel Thursday night, Winfrey wisely began with a series of yes-or-no questions that brought a decade of deception to an end.
Did Armstrong take banned substances? Yes. EPO? Yes. Blood transfusions? Yes. In winning all seven Tour de France titles? Yes.
If you changed the channel then, you didn't miss much.
It was the most eagerly anticipated interview since

JOB INTERVIEW: HOW TO STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD

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Feeling prepared, you walk into the office for your interview. You introduce yourself and are promptly led to the conference room—only to find five other candidates waiting.
Group interviews can take you by surprise, but more and more, companies are using them to effectively find job candidates and expedite the interview process. And with the rising importance of office dynamics, group interviews aren’t going away.
Here’s a quick primer: Group interviews can include both multiple interviewers and multiple candidates. As a group, you may be asked to answer typical interview questions, but you may also be put to the test. Expect to find a problem solving or work-simulation exercise, along with discussion around the problem solving process. The purpose of this style of interview is to see how you interact with others, demonstrate your skills in a crowd, and solve problems on the spot.
Your goal in this setting is to stand out (in a good way), so that you can move past this first round and secure a solo interview. So, as much as you’d rather have a one-on-one meeting, here’s how to use the group setting as an opportunity to shine.

Put on a Poker Face

You may be surprised to see the other candidates, but don’t let them know, and definitely try not to show any disappointment or shock. Enter the room with confidence and resist the urge to size everyone up. How you react to the situation and the group is indicative

Thursday 17 January 2013

THE HOSTAGE TAKING IN ALGERIA AND THE FEAR OF MR MARLBORO


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The terrorist attack on a natural gas installation at In Amenas in eastern Algeria may be an isolated act of revenge for the French intervention in Mali -- or an ominous portent of things to come in North Africa, where Islamist militancy is gaining traction fast.
The man claiming responsibility for the operation is a veteran jihadist who is also renowned for hostage-taking and smuggling anything from cigarettes to refugees.His name is Moktar Belmoktar, an Algerian who lost an eye while fighting in Afghanistan in his teens and has long been a target of French counter-terrorism forces.Today, he leads a group called Al-Mulathameen Brigade (The Brigade of the Masked Ones), which is associated with al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM.) In the last few years, he has cultivated allies and established cells far and wide across the region.

Assault on In Amenas
The gas complex where Belmoktar's followers

LAGOS STATE GOVT COLLECTED N72M FROM ME---PST TUNDE BAKARE

Pastor Tunde Bakare, who spoke in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, said he bought the parcel of land from PHCN to build a residential estate to make more people own their houses, saying he was shocked when the state government asked him to pay N72 million.
He said after paying the money, the government was yet to release documents of the transaction to him.
The preacher stated that such money was unnecessary as he had already paid for the land and that this was one of the evils brought about by the Land Use Act, LUA, which he said should be repealed.
“The Land Use Act is the enemy of progress in our country. Due to greed for land, they imposed it in our constitution and they are smiling to the bank every day. Citizens are not having access to land or they will pay through their nose.
“Even the Certificate of Ownership, whatever

Wednesday 16 January 2013

BREAKING NEWS: OBAMA BANS ASSAULT WEAPONS

BREAKING NEWS: The news reaching us  from Washinton DC states that President,  President Barak Obama has placed ban on all assault weapons including Semi automatic manchine gun popularly known as AR 15.He also ordered more security in schools and public places. Stay tuned for details.

FRENCH AND NIGERIAN TROOPS ARE AT THE VERGE OF DIRECT LAND BATTLE WITH REBELS IN MALI




French and ECOWAS troops including Nigerian soldiers will be in direct combat with Islamist militants in Mali "within hours", France's military chief of staff has said.
Admiral Édouard Guillaud said on Wednesday morning that French ground operations had begun overnight – hours after the defence minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, said France's intervention would continue "as long as necessary".
Le Drian had confirmed on Tuesday night that the French intervention in Mali would take the form of both air and ground operations, while preparations continue for the arrival of a west African force."Now we're on the ground," Guillaud said. "We will be in direct combat within hours."
Guillaud accused the insurgents of taking human shields and said France would do its utmost to make sure civilians were not wrongly targeted. "When in doubt, we will not fire," he said.
President François Hollande said on Tuesday France

2 KILLED AND 9 INJURED IN THE LONDON HELICOPTER CRASH

Two people have been killed and nine injured when a helicopter crashed into a crane in central London in misty conditions.Police said it appeared the helicopter had hit the crane on top of The Tower, One St George Wharf at about 08:00 GMT About 90 firefighters are at the scene near Wandsworth Road in South Lambeth. Doctors said one of the dead was in the helicopter and the other on the ground.
A man was rescued from a burning car by firefighters.Burning wreckage lay in the road but the fire was brought under control within 25 minutes, the fire brigade said. Four people, one of them critically ill, were taken to hospital. Five others were treated at the scene.
Part of the crane was left hanging from the side of the building.
'Enormous bang'
The incident caused gridlock with all approaches to the Vauxhall Cross one way system closed at the height of the rush hour and Vauxhall Tube station

6 WAYS TO TURN OFF A HIRING MANAGER

By Heather Huhman
 Imagine that a hiring manager is interested in you for an open position; they’re looking at you online, they’re looking at your application materials like a cover letter or resume, and they may even be interviewing you. Now imagine that the hiring manager saw something that immediately put you out of the running for the position.To prevent this, consider these six ways to immediately turn off a hiring manager – and avoid them at all costs.

Online & Social Media
The ways to “mess up” your job search online are countless. Here are two of the biggest:
1. Bare it all
It’s been said before, but it’s worth repeating: anything you put online is fair game for the rest of the web – including hiring managers. Don’t put anything on the web that you wouldn’t want your grandmother to see, and more importantly, keep your online and social media

OPINIONS: SHOULD ARMSTRONG BE GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE?

Randy Cohen
The important ethical question isn't whether Lance deserves a second chance. Chance to do what? Cheat in seven more Tours? Lie about it seven more times? Bully seven more teammates into doping? He behaved badly and is rightly censured.
But that should be the beginning, not the end, of this disheartening story. There's a lot more blame to go around. Cycling's governing bodies also have an ethical duty, and that's to provide a setting in which honest athletes can participate.
If many cycling fans are right, most of the top riders engaged in doping. You simply can't compete against them without doing the same. What was Lance to do? Quit the sport? And who inherits his Tour titles? Some other cheat?
It would be thrilling if one by one, they

A 23-YEAR OLD LADY STOLE A TRAIN AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING

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A young woman charged with cleaning a commuter train instead appears to have stolen the empty train from a depot and driven it until it derailed and crashed into a house in a Stockholm suburb, local officials said.
An injured person was found by the train and sent to a hospital in an ambulance helicopter, local police said, adding the injured person was also detained for endangering the public. Police said it was unlikely that anybody except the driver was on the train at the time of the accident, and no other injuries were reported.
Local police received an alarm call around 2.30 a.m. that a derailed train had collided with a building in the suburb of Saltsjobaden.

Bertil Grandinson, 71 years old, who lives on the top floor of the three-story building, woke up in the middle of the night from the loud crash, Swedish daily Aftonbladet reported. "It sounded like an air-plane crash. I rushed to the window and then I saw the

Tuesday 15 January 2013

THE FALL OF ARMSTRONG A LESSON FOR US ALL

The court of public opinion weighed in decidedly against Lance Armstrong ahead of the broadcast of his interview with Oprah Winfrey, who confirmed media reports Tuesday that the cyclist acknowledged using performance-enhancing drugs after years of denials.
After CBS and other media outlets reported that Armstrong admitted using banned substances, Winfrey said her team and Armstrong's camp had agreed not to leak details of the interview but agreed to talk because "it's already been confirmed."
Winfrey, appearing on "CBS This Morning" on Tuesday, did not describe Armstrong's statements in detail but said the former cyclist was forthcoming in what she said was an exhausting and intense interview taped in
"We were mesmerized and riveted by some of his answers," she said,

NIGERIA TO JOIN FRANCE IN MALI WITH 900 SOLDIERS THIS WEEK

Photos: Mali military braces against Islamist insurgents
France now has nearly 800 troops on Malian soil, the French Defense Ministry said Tuesday, as its forces seek to bolster the Malian military's efforts to wrest control from Islamist militants.
President Francois Hollande, speaking on a visit to the United Arab Emirates, said the number of French troops deployed would increase "so that France can make way as quickly as possible" for an African force.
Nearly 1,700 French troops will take part in the Mali offensive from French military bases across the region, the Defense Ministry said.

Hollande said France had no intention of staying in Mali permanently but would do what was necessary until the African force was ready to take over.

He said France had three aims: stopping the

Monday 14 January 2013

2013 OSCAR AWARD BEST AND WORST DRESSED OF THE DAY

The stars did what they were supposed to do last night, Jan. 13, at the Golden Globes in Beverly Hills: They sparkled bright—literally, for some of them.

There were a few head-scratchers, for sure. Halle Berry in a diaphanous, patterned, one-shouldered number with a thigh-revealing slit, Lucy Liu in a big floral ballgown, and Rachel Weisz in a black dress with polkadot see-through skirt were a few of the actresses whose getups

RESUME REVAMP:HOW TO TURN YOUR DUTIES INTO ACCOMPLISHMENT

by Amy Michalenko 
You often hear that your resume should list your accomplishments, not your job duties. And it’s true—accomplishment statements are the best way to showcase the amazing things you’ve done at your past jobs, plus show prospective employers what you can do for them. Your list of weekly assignments? Not so much.
So why do the majority of resumes out there still look like job descriptions? Well, because turning job duties into accomplishments is a tough concept to grasp. But once you get it—I promise, you’ll have smooth sailing in your resume-writing future. So grab your resume, and sit down with our step-by-step guide to ditching the duties and making those bullet points sing your praises.

1. Know the Difference

Plain and simple, a duty describes what you did and an accomplishment describes how well you did it. For example, “planned events” would be considered a job duty, whereas “raised $100,000 by selling out tickets to a 200-person charity event” is an accomplishment.
Why is this so important? You want to tell the person

BREAKING NEWS: BRITISH ROYAL BABY IS EXPECTED IN JULY


The baby of Britain's Prince William and his wife Kate is expected in July, the prince's office said on Monday.
The pregnancy of the Duchess of Cambridge, 31, was revealed in December when she was admitted to hospital for three days, suffering from severe morning sickness.
"Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted to confirm they are expecting a baby in July," the prince's office said in a statement, which also refutes speculation that Kate could be carrying twins.
"The Duchess's condition continues to improve since her stay in hospital last month," it added.
William, the elder son of heir to the throne, Prince Charles, married the then Kate Middleton in April 2011 and were given the titles Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

DEATH TOLL ON THE RISE AS FRENCH TROOP CONFRONTS TERRORISM IN MALI

An effort to halt advancing militant Islamist forces has resulted in "many deaths" in northern Mali, a military spokesman said -- with the fatalities including Malian soldiers, insurgents and a French pilot killed in a helicopter raid.
Mali is being joined by France -- its former colonial ruler, which recently sent troops there -- as it tries to beat back advances by forces linked to al Qaeda. Much action recently has focused in and around the key northern city of Konna, which insurgents took on Thursday only to retreat the following day after a combined air and ground assault.
"There were many deaths on both sides, both rebels and government soldiers," Malian defense ministry spokesman Lt. Col. Diara Kone said Saturday of the fighting in the northern part of the country. The government, in a statement read on state TV, said 11 of its soldiers died and about 60 were wounded in the battle for Konna.
The French pilot died while taking part Friday afternoon in an aerial operation targeting a terrorist group moving on the town of Mopti, near Konna, French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said.
The aerial offensive -- which includes strikes

Sunday 13 January 2013

SAUDI ARABIA JUSTIFIED THE EXECUTION OF A 17-YEAR OLD RIZANA

Saudi Arabia on Sunday defended its execution of a Sri Lankan maid for the death of an infant in her care and hit back at international criticism of last week's beheading.
"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia categorically rejects any interference in its affairs or in the provisions of its judiciary under any justifications," a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency read.
Human rights groups and the Sri Lankan government had lobbied for leniency in the case of Rizana Nafeek, who was convicted of killing her