Showing posts with label Statement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Statement. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

AU to release its preliminary statement for the parliamentary elections



11 Apr 2011 18:35 Africa/Lagos


Nigeria / The African Union to release its preliminary statement for the parliamentary elections

ADDIS ABABA, April 11, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- On Tuesday 12 April 2011 at 15:00, the African Union Observation Team deployed to Nigeria to witness the parliamentary elections that took place on 9 April will hold a press conference aimed at releasing its preliminary statement.

Journalists are invited to cover and attend the press conference which will take place on 12 of April 2011 at 15:00 at the Sheraton in Abuja, Laki Kwali Conference Center. The press conference will be addressed by Mr Ahmed Issack Hassan, AU team leader for the parliamentary elections and Chairman of the Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC) of Kenya.



Source: African Union Commission (AUC)





Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time
11 Apr 2011
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18:35 Nigeria / The African Union to release its preliminary statement for the parliamentary elections
7 Apr 2011
21:11 AU Commissioner receives international recognition




Saturday, April 2, 2011

African Union observer mission to Nigeria's 2011 Elections



1 Apr 2011 20:37 Africa/Lagos

African Union observer mission to Nigeria's 2011 Parliamentary and Presidential elections / Arrival statement

ABUJA, April 1, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- African Union observer mission to Nigeria's 2011 Parliamentary and Presidential elections / Arrival statement

1. In response to the invitation of the Independent National Electoral

Commission of Nigeria (INEC), H. E. Jean Ping, Chairperson of the African

Union (AU) Commission, dispatched an Observer Mission to Nigeria to

observe the country's National Assembly (House of Representatives and

Senate) and Presidential Elections, which will be conducted on the 2 and 9

April, 2011 respectively

2. The AU Observer Mission is led by Mr. Ahmed Issack Hassan, the

Chairperson of the Interim Independent Electoral Commission of Kenya

(IIEC). The Mission is composed of 40 members drawn from Elections

Management Bodies (EMBs), National Parliaments, the Pan African

Parliament, Ambassadors, eminent persons and members of civil societies

from various African countries. Egypt, Kenya, Malawi and Uganda also

sponsored delegates to the Mission. The Mission is assisted by a team of

technical staff from the AU Commission Headquarters in Addis Ababa.

Ethiopia.

3. The Mission Observers are from Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya,

Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda,

Zambia and Zimbabwe.

4. The AU Observer Mission arrived in Nigeria on March 27, 2011 and will

remain in the country until April 13, 2011.

5. The purpose of the Mission is to make an objective, independent and impartial

observation of the National Assembly and Presidential elections. In particular,

the Mission is expected to:

i. Determine whether the National Assembly and Presidential Elections

are conducted in accordance with the country's constitution, electoral

laws, other appropriate laws and the guidelines governing the conduct

of such elections.

ii. Determine whether the election environment is conducive for voters to

participate and exercise their fundamental rights;

iii. Establish whether the participating political parties, agencies and

groups are satisfied with the preparations for and conduct of the

elections;

iv. Evaluate the level of voters' awareness and whether the voters' right to

choose freely and in secrecy are guaranteed, upheld and protected;

v. Identify and record electoral malpractices, if any;

vi. Assess whether the media coverage and conduct are in conformity with

the laid down rules and guidelines;

vii. Evaluate transparency and adequacy of the voting, counting and

collation processes; as well as the announcement of the results; and

viii. Establish whether the results of the elections are a true reflection of

the democratically expressed will of the people of Nigeria.

6. The Mission will be guided by the AU Declaration on the Principle Governing

Democratic Elections in Africa and the 2002 AU Guidelines for Elections

Observation and Monitoring Missions.

7. The Mission is situated at the Ladi Kwali Conference Centre, Tamarind B Room,

Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, the Federal Republic of Nigeria.


Source: African Union Commission (AUC)

Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time
1 Apr 2011
20:53 CAMAC Statement on Events in the Congo
20:37 African Union observer mission to Nigeria's 2011 Parliamentary and Presidential elections / Arrival statement
14:30 Breast Health Global Initiative Offers Unprecedented Tools for Developing Nations
14:19 Agenda des actions africaines en région parisienne de avril 2011
14:00 World Autism Day: Launch of the Global Autism Alliance and the Premiere of Their First International Video on Autism
31 Mar 2011
20:40 The African Union sends an observer mission to Nigeria




Friday, February 4, 2011

Protest swells in Cairo




Thousands of anti-government protesters gather in Cairo's Tahrir Square as Egyptian troops bar pro-Mubarak loyalists from entering. Katharine Jackson reports.

© 2011 Reuters

4 Feb 2011 18:10 Africa/Lagos


Statement by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on current the situation in North Africa

GENEVA, February 4, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Statement by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on current the situation in North Africa


Thank you for coming once again. It is unusual for me to hold two press conferences within a week. This is a reflection of the extreme importance I place on what has been going on in North Africa over the past few weeks, and the ramifications for human rights further afield.


First I would like to make a few comments about what is happening in Egypt, before turning to Tunisia and handing over to my high-level team who have just returned from there.


I last spoke to you about Egypt on Tuesday, before vast and peaceful demonstrations and marches were held in Alexandria, Cairo and other cities. The world has been watching as events have unfolded since.


I warned then, and I reiterate again, that governments must listen to their people and put in practise their human rights obligations. Regimes that deprive people of their fundamental rights, that depend on a ruthless security apparatus to impose their will, are bound to fail in the long-term. Stability depends on the development of human rights and democracy.


Tuesday ended on an optimistic note in Egypt. The peaceful demonstrations showed that the chaos, which some were presenting as the only possible alternative to the existing system, was by no means the inevitable outcome.


The violence we all hoped would not happen, did happen on Wednesday when we saw shocking scenes of opposing groups hurling Molotov cocktails, fire bombs and barrages of large stones at each other. Again, there was a noticeable absence of police, and the army failed to separate the two groups, with tragic consequences.


This violence must stop.


Yesterday President Mubarak gaved a television interview in which he said he would like to step down now, but fears the only alternative would be chaos. In the last two days we have seen chaos in central Cairo, and one of the prime drivers of this chaos seems to have been the actions of Egypt's security and intelligence services.


I urge the authorities to make a strong, clear and unequivocal call on the security and intelligence forces that have protected the authoritarian regime in Egypt for the past 30 years, to stop undermining the security of the state they are supposed to serve.


The Prime Minister has apologized for Wednesday's violence. I welcome this public recognition – unique in Egypt's recent history – that the authorities have failed in their duties to protect the people. I urge Egypt to follow through and make the necessary reforms to promote human rights and democracy. There must be an investigation into whether this violence was planned, and if so by whom. This investigation must be undertaken in a transparent and impartial manner.


Over the past two days, we have learned of other extremely disturbing developments, including the physical assaults on, and intimidation and arbitrary detention of, dozens of journalists in what is clearly a blatant attempt to stifle news of what is going on in Egypt.


We have heard of the harassment and arbitrary detention of local and international human rights defenders, including most notably 20 or more people taken yesterday from the Hisham Mubarak Law Centre by military police. Those detained include some of Egypt's leading activists as well as staff of Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International – two of the most respected international human rights organizations. As of the time I left for this briefing, I understand they had still not been freed from military detention.


All journalists and human rights defenders who were arrested for practicing their professions must be released immediately and unconditionally. The authorities must order their security and intelligence forces to cease this extreme harassment at once.


I also urge the authorities to maintain open communications and internet services, protect media premises, and halt all activities aimed at restricting or manipulating the free flow of information, such as the extraordinary hijacking of Vodaphone's system in order to send propaganda text messages.


Egypt must implement its international human rights obligations and prevent further violence. Protestors must be properly protected, including from each other. The security and intelligence forces must be held accountable. Change is coming to Egypt, as it came to Tunisia, but the violence and bloodshed must stop now.



Governments should listen to their people, and start addressing their human rights deficits immediately. Waiting until unrest actually happens is, as we have seen in Tunisia and are now seeing in Egypt, not only perpetuating systems that to a greater or lesser degree transgress international laws and standards, it is also a classic case of acting too little, too late. We now see there is an intense hunger for human rights in the Middle East and North Africa – and of course in other countries in other regions. Governments who ignore these extremely loud and clear warning signals, are doing so at their own peril.


As in Egypt, human rights are at the heart of the political change that has happened in Tunisia. In Tunisia, people expressed loudly and clearly their appetite for a genuine break with the past and for a new era in their countries. Socio-economic hardship coupled with a denial of human rights and justice were the instigators for the widespread protests in both countries.


My team of senior human rights experts has just returned from visiting Tunisia and the information they received confirmed how integral human rights will be for the construction of the future of this country. They have briefed me on their observations and findings.


I was particularly moved by the words of one man whose 28-year-old son died as a result of a gunshot wound to the chest, as he gathered with other young men to protect their neighbourhood from armed militias. Speaking of the death of his son, he told my team that, “there must be sacrifices for there to be change.” His courageous words convey the enormity of the change for ordinary Tunisians and their desire and determination to achieve it despite colossal personal sacrifices and pain. Tunisians are anxious to see the human rights gains of recent weeks reinforced and entrenched in law so that they become a permanent feature of their country.



My team is currently finalizing a written report, based on which I will decide on the best ways in which my Office can provide immediate and more long-term support and assistance to the Tunisian people on a range of human rights issues.



I will now hand over to my team for their direct accounts of what they witnessed in Tunisia over the past week and their impressions.



Source: United Nations - Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)




Saturday, January 29, 2011

Statements by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on Tunisia and Egypt

29, 2011




Thousands of Egyptians break a curfew to continue their protests against President Hosni Mubarak.

© 2011 Reuters


28 Jan 2011 21:23 Africa/Lagos


Statements by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on Tunisia and Egypt

PR Newswire

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 2011

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, today made the following statement on Tunisia:

"I spoke earlier today with the newly appointed Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ahmed Ounaies.

I congratulated the Minister on his appointment and confirmed the EU's solidarity with the

Tunisian people in their efforts to build a stable and pluralistic democracy with full respect for the rule of law and fundamental rights and freedoms. I expressed the EU's hope that the transitional Government will be able to organize free and fair democratic parliamentary and presidential elections as soon as possible. I welcomed the liberation of political prisoners and I stressed that freedom of association and legalization of all political parties are key components for the transition.

I confirmed the EU's readiness to provide its assistance and expertise for the preparation and organization of the electoral process and political reforms. I underscored the need to help and empower the civil society. The EU will review and update its strategy and assistance. I also emphasized the EU's commitment to continue our economic cooperation and the need for investors to redouble their confidence in Tunisia.

Minister Ounaies and I agreed to meet in the coming days.

The Tunisian Foreign Minister welcomed the EU's engagement and the offer to accompany his country's transition towards democracy with assistance."

Regarding the situation in Egypt, High Representative Ashton stated:

"I have followed very closely and with profound concern the reports of increased violence, clashes and arrests during today's demonstrations in Egypt.

The continued use of force against demonstrators by police and state security forces is deeply troubling. In order to avoid further deterioration of the situation in Cairo and elsewhere in Egypt, and to avoid more casualties, I reiterate my call on all parties to exercise restraint and calm and I urge the authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all peaceful demonstrators from detention.

I also reiterate my call upon the Egyptian authorities to urgently establish a constructive and peaceful way to respond to the legitimate aspirations of Egyptian citizens for democratic and socioeconomic reforms.

I will discuss these developments with my colleagues in the Foreign Affairs Council meeting on

Monday in Brussels."

SOURCE Delegation of the European Union to the United States

CONTACT: Silvia Kofler, +1-202-862 9523, or Kasper Zeuthen, +1-202-862 9530, both of the Delegation of the European Union to the United States

Web Site: http://www.eurunion.org


Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time
28 Jan 2011
21:23 Statements by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on Tunisia and Egypt
20:29 Comment of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) on Protests in Egypt and Global Internet Freedom
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16:18 In Support of the Egyptian People's Struggle to Achieve Freedom and Social Justice
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18:11 Statement by the EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on the events in Egypt
15:00 2,200 Arab Scholars, Politicians, and Activists Issue Appeal for Human Rights and Democracy in the Arab World
04:42 US Press Secretary of the White House / Statement by the Press Secretary on Egypt




Tuesday, May 4, 2010

MISA-Zimbabwe Statement on World Press Freedom Day 2010

4 May 2010 13:16 Africa/Lagos


MISA-Zimbabwe statement on World Press Freedom Day 2010


HARARE, May 4, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- On 3 May 2010 Zimbabweans join the rest of the world in commemorating World Press Freedom Day set by the United Nations to raise awareness on the importance of media freedom and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.


The day also marks the anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration which espouses the principles of a free, independent and pluralistic media as agreed to by African newspaper journalists in 1991 in Windhoek, Namibia.


In Zimbabwe this year's celebrations come at a time of increasing agitations and national consensus on the need for constitutional provisions that guarantee media freedom and citizens' right to access to information.


This year's celebrations are being held under the theme: Access to Information: The Right to Know.


MISA-Zimbabwe, however, notes that 30 years after Zimbabwe's independence, the country is still to comply and meaningfully implement envisaged media reforms in sync with regional and international instruments on the right to freedom of expression, media freedom and the citizens' right to access to information.


Repressive legislation that infringes on the afore-mentioned rights such as the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA), Broadcasting Services Act (BSA), Public Order and Security Act (POSA), Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Interception of Communications Act (ICA) and Official Secrets Act (OSA), among others, remain entrenched in our statutes.


These laws are unnecessary and unjustified in a democratic society and should therefore be repealed in line with the principles of the African Charter on Human Rights, Banjul Declaration on the Principles of Freedom of Expression in Africa, SADC Protocol on Information, Sports and Culture and African Charter on Broadcasting.


Due to the restrictive media environment Zimbabwe is still to license community radio stations and privately owned television and radio stations and an independent daily newspaper since the banning of The Daily News in 2003 under the draconian AIPPA.


The statutory Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) is still to license new media players in terms of its constitutional obligations and as agreed to under the inter-party Global Political Agreement. While the ZMC offers a glimmer of hope for a diversified and pluralistic media environment, MISA-Zimbabwe insists on media self-regulation as the long term solution to sustainable media freedom and independence as stipulated in terms of the Banjul Declaration.


The year 2010 has also been characterised by continued arrests and harassment of journalists which runs against the grain of the right to the exercise of freedom of expression and media freedom. The beginning of the year saw an independent journalist Stanley Kwenda fleeing the country into exile following alleged death threats issued against him by a senior police officer. A freelance photojournalist Andrison Manyere, has since January 2010 been subjected to harassment by the police. Manyere has been arrested three times this year while conducting his lawful professional duties.


The legislative framework remains clogged with criminal defamation offences in breach of the right to the exercise of freedom of expression and media freedom. Four journalists from The Standard newspaper group and an independent journalist have been questioned and summoned to appear in court in May 2010 as state witnesses in a criminal defamation case. The case arises from publication of stories exposing an alleged massive land acquisition scandal in Harare involving businessperson Philip Chiyangwa and Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo.


It is MISA-Zimbabwe's firm position that the obtaining restrictive media environment is the result of the absence of requisite constitutional provisions that explicitly guarantee media freedom, citizens' right to access to information and independent media regulatory bodies. Regionally, Zimbabwe together with Botswana stick out among the few southern African countries without constitutional provisions that explicitly guarantee media freedom and the citizens' right to access to information.


A free and unfettered media plays a critical role in advancing citizens' universal right to access to information held by both public and private bodies and is a panacea to socio-economic development, accountable governance and political stability. MISA-Zimbabwe therefore reminds the government and public officials that the information they collect and process comes from the citizens themselves. They hold that information on behalf of the people who therefore have a right to access that very same information for the public good and decision-making on issues that affect their daily lives.


It is in the context of the restrictive media environment and the ongoing constitutional reform process that MISA-Zimbabwe reiterates its calls for constitutional provisions that guarantee media freedom and the citizens' right to access to information under its 2010 World Press Freedom Day theme: Media Freedom & Access to Information should be Constitutional Rights!


Media freedom is intrinsically enjoined with the universal rights to freedom of expression, assembly, association and citizens' right to access to information because of the pivotal role they play in:


assisting the public to perform an effective watchdog role through exposure of misconduct within public and private sectors


fighting corruption


holding both public and private bodies accountable


participatory poverty reduction policy making


fostering respect for human rights notably socio-economic rights to clean water, adequate housing and health care


educating, informing and ensuring free flow of information and ideas


MISA-Zimbabwe implores the government to therefore go beyond rhetorical commitments to media reforms by taking visible and tangible steps to free the media space as agreed to in terms of the Global Political Agreement and the constitutional mandate of the statutory Zimbabwe Media Commission.

Media Freedom & Access to Information should be Constitutional Rights!


Source: Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)



Thursday, March 11, 2010

STATEMENT: Lord's Resistance Army Finds Safe Haven in Darfur

11 Mar 2010 07:17 Africa/Lagos

STATEMENT: Lord's Resistance Army Finds Safe Haven in Darfur

KAMPALA, Uganda, JUBA, Sudan and WASHINGTON, March 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Enough Project at the Center for American Progress today released the following statement:


The Enough Project confirms that a contingent of the deadly Lord's Resistance Army, or LRA, has taken refuge in areas of south Darfur, Sudan, controlled by the Government of Sudan. The possibility of rekindled collaboration between LRA leader Joseph Kony and Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir - both wanted for war crimes and crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court, or ICC - should alarm policymakers and demands urgent international investigation and response.


The LRA originated in northern Uganda during the late 1980s. In addition to committing widespread atrocities in Uganda, throughout the 1990s and early 2000s the LRA served as a proxy for the Sudanese government in its war with the Sudan People's Liberation Army, or SPLA, in southern Sudan. In 2005, Kony publicly stated that the Bashir government supported the LRA as a proxy force to destabilize the south, a charge that Khartoum continues to deny despite considerable evidence to the contrary.


"The Khartoum regime's principal tool of war during its 21-year reign has been support for marauding militias such as the Janjaweed, the Murahaliin, and the Lord's Resistance Army," said Enough Co-founder John Prendergast. "Facing no consequences for this destructive method of governing, it is unsurprising that the regime is again providing safe haven for the LRA. Absent a cost for this, we will likely see the LRA unleashed again later this year to destabilize the referendum in southern Sudan."


With material support from Khartoum, the LRA quickly became one of the deadliest militias in Africa, known for gruesome mutilations of civilians and abduction of children to serve as fighters and sex slaves. Following failed peace talks from 2006 to 2008, the LRA morphed into a full blown regional insurgency with fighters in northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, or CAR, and southern Sudan.


In late 2009, Enough received credible information that an LRA reconnaissance team was seeking to make contact with the Sudanese army at their base in Kafia Kingi, near south Darfur's border with CAR. In recent months, Ugandan forces have pursued the LRA into Congo, CAR, and southern Sudan, but are restricted from crossing Sudan's disputed north-south border.


Now, based on months of field research and interviews with government and United Nations officials in several countries, Enough can confirm that LRA units have reached south Darfur.


"This is a very disturbing development. The move by the Government of Sudan to provide the LRA with safe haven demands a firm, rapid, and well-coordinated response from the United States and its partners in the international community," said John Norris, Enough's Executive Director. "A failure to bring clear and consistent pressure on President Bashir and his allies for this latest outrage will only encourage the Sudanese government to commit further abuses, with a terrible cost for civilians on the ground."


Also today, Enough released a strategy paper by field researcher Ledio Cakaj detailing the continuing threat posed by the LRA to civilians in northeastern Congo. The report, "Between a Rock and a Hard Place: LRA Attacks and Congolese Army Abuses in Northeastern Congo," argues that much greater efforts must be made to protect civilians from a resurgent LRA and the predatory Congolese army.


Read the report at: http://www.enoughproject.org/publications/lra-army-abuses-congo


Enough is a project of the Center for American Progress to end genocide and crimes against humanity. Founded in 2007, Enough focuses on crises in Sudan, eastern Congo, and areas of Africa affected by the Lord's Resistance Army. Enough's strategy papers and briefings provide sharp field analysis and targeted policy recommendations based on a "3P" crisis response strategy: promoting durable peace, providing civilian protection, and punishing perpetrators of atrocities. Enough works with concerned citizens, advocates, and policy makers to prevent, mitigate, and resolve these crises. For more information, please visit www.enoughproject.org.


Source: Center for American Progress

CONTACT: Eileen White Read, +1-202-641-0779, eread@enoughproject.org,
for Center for American Progress


Web Site: http://www.enoughproject.org/
http://www.americanprogress.org/


Friday, January 1, 2010

Statement From the Association of Flight Attendants Concerning Crew of Northwest Flight 253

Happy New Year 2010!


31 Dec 2009 16:43 Africa/Lagos

Statement From the Association of Flight Attendants Concerning Crew of Northwest Flight 253

The flight attendants of Northwest flight 253, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), wish to offer their sincere thanks and appreciation for the support, praise and well wishes they have received from the public and federal officials, including the President, since the events on Christmas Day.


The entire crew recognizes the media's interest in speaking with them as soon as possible. However, as the FBI and additional federal investigations are ongoing, they are legally prohibited from speaking to the public. During this time, they ask that the media respect their desire and need for privacy. The crew of flight 253 will refrain from participating in interviews until further notice.


After being officially released from the investigations, some of them might be willing to share their experiences. If you are interested in interviewing the flight attendants, please direct media requests to Corey Caldwell at ccaldwell@afanet.org.


For over 60 years, the Association of Flight Attendants has been serving as the voice for flight attendants in the workplace, in the aviation industry, in the media and on Capitol Hill. More than 50,000 flight attendants at 22 airlines come together to form AFA-CWA, the world's largest flight attendant union. AFA is part of the 700,000-member strong Communications Workers of America (CWA), AFL-CIO. Visit us at www.afanet.org.


CONTACT: Corey Caldwell of Association of Flight Attendants, +1-202-434-0586


/PRNewswire-USNewswire -- Dec. 31/


Source: Association of Flight Attendants

Web Site: http://www.afanet.org/


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Monday, December 28, 2009

International Drug & Explosives Detection Firm IDenta Corp. Issues Statement Concerning Airplane Explosives

28 Dec 2009 16:00 Africa/Lagos

International Drug & Explosives Detection Firm IDenta Corp. Issues Statement Concerning Airplane Explosives

JERUSALEM, Dec. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- IDenta Corp. (PINKSHEETS: IDTA) CEO Yaacov Shoham today issued the following statement concerning airplane explosives and the incident in Detroit last week.


Stated Shoham, "Concerning the airplane incident last week, (Northwest Airlines Flight 253) IDenta Alert Explosive Identification kits could have easily and accurately helped to identify the suspected substance, especially since, according to the news, the explosive was PETN, one of the standard and well-known explosives (already used in the past by terrorists). IDenta has IDenta Alert Explosive Identifiers available to identify all of the substances already known to be explosives. The IDenta test is an instant test, inexpensive, very reliable, safe, easy to use etc."


PETN is a stronger explosive than TNT which is the most standard known explosive, the effect of 1 kg of TNT = to 0.60 kg of PETN.


The airports in France are in the beginning stages of using IDenta Alert Explosive Identifiers and are the first to do so.


As previously released, two large International companies (connection established at the 2009 Explosives Detection Symposium and Workshop in San Diego) that are manufacturing electronic devices to detect explosives at airports, have inquired about and received information and samples of IDenta Alert Explosive Identifiers kits. IDenta expects to penetrate this very important market of airport security also. These electronic devices are being used extensively at airports and the two companies are looking to provide an inexpensive and reliable chemical explosive kit as a backup for the electronic devices. In our opinion IDenta Alert is the best kit to be used as a backup for the electronic devices for detecting and identifying explosives and illicit drugs.


However IDenta Corp. is already selling the IDenta Alert Explosive Identifiers for different Homeland Security and Army agencies around the world, and as we have released since the 2009 Explosives Detection Symposium and Workshop in San Diego, the penetration to the different agencies in USA is developing rapidly.


We want to emphasize that the new connections developed at the San Diego workshop are in addition to the DOD test.


We have been in the last few months in contact with the DOD officers to finalize the tests for IDenta's Alert Explosive Detectors. IDenta has helped them to develop and establish a special protocol how to use the explosive kits.


The DOD test is still in progress, and hopefully will be concluded positive in a relatively short period.


At The San Diego Explosive Detection 2009 Symposium and Workshop, in our opinion, we have been able to receive the best possible connections and exposure for IDenta's Alert Explosive Detectors.


Information concerning IDenta's Alert Explosive Identifiers may be found at www.IDenta.biz


Meanwhile, IDenta has already made all the changes requested by the still yet unnamed American agency (previous news release) and expects to have a signed agreement for the initial order of 100,000 Alert Explosive Identifiers very shortly.


ABOUT IDENTA


Since 2003, IDenta Corporation has been recognized as a worldwide leader in the development of proprietary on-site drug, drug precursor and explosive detection kits. IDenta develops, manufactures and distributes products for both the professional and civil markets which consistently pass the highest qualifications and testing procedures of law enforcement and security agencies around the world.


Information concerning IDenta's entire product line may be found at www.IDenta.biz


DISCLAIMER


Certain of the statements contained herein may be, within the meaning of the federal securities laws, "forward-looking statements" that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on management's expectations as of the date hereof, and the company does not undertake any responsibility to update any of these statements in the future.


For Investor Relations, lobbying interests or information concerning IDenta's products internationally or the development of new chemical detectors, contact: Yaacov Shoham, IDenta Corp., CEO, Tel: +972-52-6554487, fpi@drugsdetector.com, www.IDenta.biz.


For information about the Accutest® - IDenta products in the US, please contact: Mr. Eyal Golan, COO, JANT PHARMACAL CORPORATION, 16255 Ventura Blvd. #505, Encino, CA 91436, Toll Free: 800-676-5565, 661-478-0582 (mobile), golan@accutest.net, www.accutestIDenta.net.


Source: IDenta Corp.

CONTACT: Yaacov Shoham, CEO of IDenta Corp., +972-52-6554487, or
fpi@drugsdetector.com


Web Site: http://www.identa.biz/

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Sunday, December 27, 2009

Statement by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano

Department of Homeland Security Logo. (PRNewsFoto/Transportation Security Administration) WASHINGTON, DC UNITED STATES

26 Dec 2009 20:07 Africa/Lagos

Statement by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano

WASHINGTON, Dec. 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- "I am grateful to the passengers and crew aboard Northwest Flight 253 who reacted quickly and heroically to an incident that could have had tragic results. The Department of Homeland Security immediately put additional screening measures into place -- for all domestic and international flights -- to ensure the continued safety of the traveling public. We are also working closely with federal, state and local law enforcement on additional security measures, as well as our international partners on enhanced security at airports and on flights.


The American people should continue their planned holiday travel and, as always, be observant and aware of their surroundings and report any suspicious behavior or activity to law enforcement officials.


Passengers flying from international locations to U.S. destinations may notice additional security measures in place. These measures are designed to be unpredictable, so passengers should not expect to see the same thing everywhere. Due to the busy holiday travel season, both domestic and international travelers should allot extra time for check-in."


(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090402/DC93847LOGO-b )


Contact: DHS Press Office, (202) 282-8010


Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090402/DC93847LOGO-b
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Department of Homeland Security

CONTACT: DHS Press Office, +1-202-282-8010

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Friday, January 2, 2009

Business Report: China Precision Steel Files Universal Shelf Registration Statement

31 Dec 2008 15:00 Africa/Lagos

China Precision Steel Files Universal Shelf Registration Statement

SHANGHAI, China, Dec. 31 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- China Precision Steel, Inc. (NASDAQ:CPSL) ("China Precision Steel" or the "Company"), a niche precision steel processing company principally engaged in producing and selling high precision cold-rolled steel products, today announced that it has filed a universal shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), on December 30, 2008. The shelf registration, when declared effective, will permit China Precision Steel to issue up to an aggregate of $40 million in securities.


The shelf registration provides the Company with flexibility to publicly offer and sell securities from time to time, in one or more separate offerings or other transactions, with size, price and terms to be determined at the time of issuance, and at times when the Company believes that market conditions make such an offering attractive. The Company does not have any commitments or current intentions to sell securities under the registration statement at this time.


"We have no current plans to raise additional capital," commented Dr. Wo Hing Li, China Precision Steel's Chairman and CEO, "but we believe that it is prudent to have a shelf registration statement in place to ensure financing flexibility should the need arise."


This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of any securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. Any offering may be made only by means of the prospectus and a related prospectus supplement.


About China Precision Steel, Inc.


China Precision Steel, Inc. is a niche precision steel processing Company principally engaged in the production and sale of high precision cold-rolled steel products and provides value added services such as heat treatment and cutting medium and high carbon hot-rolled steel strips. China Precision Steel produces high precision ultra-thin, high strength (7.5 mm to 0.05 mm) cold- rolled steel products primarily for automotive components, food packaging materials, saw blades and textile needle manufacturing companies in the People's Republic of China. China Precision Steel is expanding its penetration in overseas markets such as Nigeria, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. China Precision Steel was incorporated in 2002 and is headquartered in Sheung Wan, Hong Kong. Additional information can be found at the Company's website http://chinaprecisionsteelinc.com/ .


Safe Harbor Statement


This press release contains certain statements that may include "forward looking statements." All statements other than statements of historical fact included herein are "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects" or similar expressions, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, and these expectations may prove to be incorrect. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including those discussed in the Company's periodic reports that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on its website ( http://www.sec.gov/ ). All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Other than as required under the securities laws, the Company does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements.


For more information, please contact:

China Precision Steel, Inc.
Dan Carlson, Director
Email: DanielCarlson@comcast.net

Elite IR
Leslie J. Richardson, Partner
Tel: +852-3183-0283
Email: Leslie.richardson@elite-ir.com


Source: China Precision Steel, Inc.

CONTACT: Dan Carlson, Director of China Precision Steel, Inc.,
DanielCarlson@comcast.net; Or Elite IR - Leslie J. Richardson, Partner, +852-
3183-0283, or Leslie.richardson@elite-ir.com


Web site: http://chinaprecisionsteelinc.com/