Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Defendant counters libel suit of FIRS Boss over Chevron Tax Evasion Saga
Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui Okauru
Mr. Fidelis Uzonwanne, the Managing Director of ABZ Integrated Limited, an Abuja based company has filed a counter claim against Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui Okauru, the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to deny the allegations of unwarranted monetary demands from FIRS or illegitimate claims made by the plaintiff against him and his company in her April 16th 2010 libel suit against Roobbs Communications Network Limited, the publishers of The Premier newspaper and the other defendants Messrs.Rotimi Sulyman, Musbau Razak, Lanre Olaleye and Gboyega Adeoye at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria.
Mrs. Okauru in her suit at the High Court in Abuja is claiming N10 billion in damages caused by the news story: "FACE OF A FRAUD TAX BOSS, OMOIGUI -OKAURU IN N74BN SCAM" titled "TAX FRAUD FIRS BOSS, OMOIGUI-OKAIRU FINGERED IN $492M SCAM", published on Tuesday 9 MARCH – MONDAY 15 MARCH 2010 edition of The Premier newspaper, accusing her and others of the diversion of some N74 billion tax payment from Chevron Nigeria Limited.
In the suit N0: FCT/HC/CV /1331/2010 filed by N.I Okpo ESQ of ROPHEKA PARTNERS, PENTHOUSE SUITE, COPPER HOUSE, N0 4, ALGIERS STREET, ZONE 5, WUSE Abuja, on 16th April 2010, Mrs. Okauru claimed that The Premier newspaper and Fidelis Uzonwanne were intimidating her to authorize the payment of 10% of US$491, 509, 303.31, allegedly recovered from Chevron Nigeria Limited to Mr. Fidelis Uzonwanne, the Managing Director of ABZ Integrated Limited.
See The Untold Story of the $10.8 Billion Tax Evasion and Fraud By Chevron Nigeria Limited and Its Associated Companies published on the Nigerians Report on Wednesday, March 31, 2010.
The following are the first 10 of the 28 documents of the statement of defence and counter claim of Mr. Fidelis Uzonwanne, the Managing Director of ABZ Integrated Limited at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria. The remaining parts will be published before the end of this week.
How to Identify and Influence "Social Echo"
New White Paper & Video Series from PR Newswire Educates Organizations on How to Identify and Influence "Social Echo"
New York, Jan. 24 /PRNewswire/ — “Social Echo”, the powerful reverberation of conversations around your brand that occur across social media, is explored in a new white paper and video series from PR Newswire that will identify how organizations can strategically influence their Social Echo and create benefits across the entire organization.
The first in the series, “Amplifying Your Social Echo”, explores how to find your “Social Echo” and amplify it to create a lasting effect on everything from product development to customer service and audience engagement.
Utilizing case studies from recognized brands such as Unisys and Windstar Cruises, this series will provide practical information that can immediately be tailored to any organization.
Other topics covered in the series will include how to create ‘group echoes’, how to manage your social echo during a crisis and when it’s appropriate to take a back seat to your Social Echo and let it play itself out. Case studies will be presented throughout the white paper and video series.
PR Newswire offers a comprehensive suite of monitoring & measurement services to keep abreast of what’s being said about an organization - its brand, products and people – in both traditional and social media and to understand the potential impact of these conversations. These monitoring services, together with PR Newswire’s engagement services, provide a means to identify, influence, amplify and leverage an organization’s Social Echo to impact the bottom line.
Download “Amplifying Your Social Echo” NOW.
Contact PR Newswire to learn more about monitoring and engagement services.
About PR Newswire
PR Newswire (www.prnewswire.com) is the premier global provider of multimedia platforms and solutions that enable marketers, corporate communicators, sustainability officers, public affairs and investor relations officers to leverage content to engage with all their key audiences. Having pioneered the commercial news distribution industry 56 years ago, PR Newswire today provides end-to-end solutions to produce, optimize and target content – from rich media to online video to multimedia – and then distribute content and measure results across traditional, digital, social, search and mobile channels. Combining the world’s largest multi-channel, multi-cultural content distribution and optimization network with comprehensive workflow tools and platforms, PR Newswire enables the world’s enterprises to engage opportunity everywhere it exists. Among its suite of audience engagement and workflow solutions, PR Newswire includes the ARC™ engagement platform, which enables marketers to distribute and optimize multimedia across all digital channels, and Media Monitoring, which enables the measurement of brands’ “Social Echo,” including sentiment. PR Newswire serves tens of thousands of clients from offices in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region, and is a United Business Media company.
Media Contact:
Rachel Meranus
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
PR Newswire
+1.201.360.6776
rachel.meranus@prnewswire.com
Call To Artists: The Beverly Hills Art Show - Affaire In The Gardens
25 Jan 2011 05:28 Africa/Lagos
Call To Artists: The Beverly Hills Art Show - Affaire In The Gardens
PR Newswire
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Jan. 24, 2011
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Jan. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --
When:
Deadline for Artists to submit application is February 14th, 2011
Show dates are Saturday and Sunday, May 21st & 22nd, 2011
Where:
Beverly Gardens Park along Santa Monica Boulevard, from Rodeo to Rexford Drive
9400 North Santa Monica Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
More Information:
Contact:
Karen Fitch McLean, Art Show Coordinator
City of Beverly Hills Community Services Department
310.285.6836 or 310.285.6830
kmclean@beverlyhills.org
Website:
http://www.beverlyhills.org/artshow - or visit us on Facebook
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110124/DC35521 )
The City of Beverly Hills is seeking fine artists to display and sell their art at its two-day art fair, The Beverly Hills Art Show – Affaire In The Gardens, to be held on May 21st and 22nd, 2011 in gracious Beverly Gardens, a long green oasis in the historic heart of town. The deadline to apply to the art show is February 14th.
Fine artists working in the categories of Painting, Sculpture, Drawing, Printmaking, Photography, Ceramics & Glass, Mixed Media and New/Digital Media Categories are welcome to apply. An additional special theme of this show will be combustion and fire; any artist working with these concepts is encouraged to get in touch with the art show office.
The show has been held for nearly 40 years in the heart of Beverly Hills, attracting up to 50,000 visitors throughout the weekend. Please visit our website or call 310.285.6836 to apply or receive additional information.
SOURCE City of Beverly Hills
CONTACT: Karen Fitch McLean, Art Show Coordinator of City of Beverly Hills Community Services Department, +1-310-285-6836, +1-310-285-6830, kmclean@beverlyhills.org
Web Site: http://www.ci.commerce.ca.us
Pay-TV Subscriptions to Triple to 4 Million by Year-End 2015
Infinity TV is a popular Pay-TV service in Nigeria.
24 Jan 2011 22:30 Africa/Lagos
AME Pay-TV Subscriptions to Triple to 4 Million by Year-End 2015, Pyramid Finds
PR Newswire
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Jan. 24, 2011
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Jan. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As operators find ways to circumvent current barriers in AME's pay-TV market, subscriptions are expected to triple over the next five years, reaching 4 million. This represents an 11 percent CAGR in pay-TV subscriptions through 2015, the highest in the world, according to a new report from Pyramid Research (www.pyr.com).
New Market Dynamics Bode Well for Spike in Pay-TV Adoption analyzes the growth potential for pay-TV services in AME, highlighting the main obstacles to pay-TV adoption in the region and pointing out the key market developments that would enable more aggressive growth than we are currently projecting. The report then looks in detail at pay-TV markets in Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa, each representing different stages of pay-TV market development, and at efforts in each market to overcome obstacles.
Download an excerpt of this report: http://www.pyramidresearch.com/downloads.htm?id=5&sc=PRN012411_INSAME2.10
Purchase this report online: http://www.pyramidresearch.com/store/ins_ame_101220.htm?sc=PRN012411_INSAME2.10
AME's market dynamics are changing and the picture of pay-TV in the region in the coming years leaves room for optimism. "Over the next five years, as regulatory changes introduce more competition into the sector and technology platforms advance, Pyramid expects the region to begin to overcome the many obstacles that have inhibited its growth in the past, specifically the high cost and limited reach of pay-TV platforms," says Mehdi Ben Said, Senior Analyst at Pyramid.
Currently, there are several barriers preventing even greater growth than Pyramid projects. "These include limited competition, lack of content, and a weak platform on which to provide pay-TV services over existing last-mile infrastructure. The adoption of new alternatives in certain countries is a sign that the market is trying follow new paths for growth," notes Ben Said. The rise in per-capita GDP will have an immediate and positive impact on the pay-TV market in the region, helped along by the success and pan-regional expansion of the AME's largest mobile operators.
Furthermore, with strong growth in mobile subscriptions, many mobile operators will enter the market through alliances with DTH providers, marking a significant and positive change in the pay-TV landscape. "The lack of fixed infrastructure and the dominance of mobile access in most African countries constitute a huge opportunity for mobile operators to become the main pay-TV providers in Africa in the long term," he indicates. "Although mobile networks in many countries may not be video-ready, we recommend that mobile operators look carefully at launching packages in conjunction with DTH operators in the near term in order to develop brand recognition in the segment."
New Market Dynamics Bode Well for Spike in Pay-TV Adoption is part of Pyramid Research's Global Telecom Insider report series. Download an excerpt of this report here: http://www.pyramidresearch.com/downloads.htm?id=5&sc=PRN012411_INSAME2.10. This report is priced at $595 and can be purchased online (http://www.pyramidresearch.com/store/ins_ame_101220.htm?sc=PRN012411_INSAME2.10)or by contacting info@pyr.com.
CONTACT: Jennifer Baker, +1-617-871-1910, jbaker@pyr.com
SOURCE Pyramid Research
CONTACT: Jennifer Baker, +1-617-871-1910, jbaker@pyr.com
Web Site: http://www.pyr.com/
Americans Still Owe Billions to Credit Cards
24 Jan 2011 16:48 Africa/Lagos
Americans Still Owe Billions to Credit Cards
From the Southeast to the Northwest, All Regions Impacted
PR Newswire
ATLANTA, Jan. 24, 2011
ATLANTA, Jan. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- While Americans continue to pay off debts and reduce spending, Equifax (NYSE: EFX), one of the leading nationwide credit reporting agencies, finds many households still carry a heavy debt burden – in some cases owing up to 17 percent of their income to credit card companies alone*.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20060224/CLF037LOGO )
No one region of the country is shouldering the credit card debt burden – Equifax found the top 50 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) hardest hit by credit card debt, as a percentage of income owed in 2010, are clustered in six states across the country: Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Washington and California.
These states also have some of the highest total credit card balances for the country:
* FL: $47,568,265,541
* NC: $22,386,064,118
* OH: $28,985,502,668
* TX: $48,833,824,544
* WA: $18,288,819,367
* CA: $90,566,978,302
Equifax reports that while total consumer debt (mortgage, auto, credit card, etc.) has declined 8.2 percent from its peak of $11.5 trillion in October of 2008, 54 million American households still owe more than $800 billion in debt to credit card companies alone – irrespective of other debts such as mortgages or students loans**.
"The good news is we're seeing Americans paying off their debts and becoming more fiscally fit," says Dianne Bernez, Equifax's senior vice president for corporate communications. "However, the numbers show that while people's intentions are good, Americans still have a lot of debt to tackle and often don't know where to start."
To help Americans get started, Equifax, along with financial expert and New York Times bestselling author David Bach, have launched the Debt Free Challenge – encouraging 1 million Americans to pay off $1 billion in debt.
"I would encourage people to look at these numbers and then take a good look at what their share is – a lot of people don't actually know how much debt they're in," says Bach, author of Debt Free for Life: The Finish Rich Plan for Financial Freedom. "Only then can you make a plan of action to pay down your debt."
Bach has been teaching a method known as done on last payment (DOLP), also known as debt stacking, for more than a decade, whereby consumers prioritize their debts to maximize their savings in interest and accelerate their payments in a methodical manner to get out of debt faster. For those looking to automate this process, Debt Wise™ powered by Equifax is an online tool that uses the information already on your credit report to prioritize debts and help you set a plan of action to reach your Debt Freedom Day—a day when all of your debts have been paid off.
"Pledging to get out of debt can really help people get started on their journey toward financial freedom – setting a goal helps you stick to your plan," says Bach. "And remember that you're not alone – taking the pledge are your neighbors, co-workers and friends – this is doable and there are tools out there to help you."
For more information about David Bach, visit www.finishrich.com. To learn more about the Debt Free Challenge, visit www.debtfreechallenge.com.
About David Bach and FinishRich Media (www.finishrich.com)
The Founder and Chairman of FinishRich Media, a company dedicated to revolutionizing the way people learn about money, Bach is the author of 11 consecutive national bestselling books, including two # 1 New York Times business bestsellers, Start Late, Finish Rich and The Automatic Millionaire. In all, his FinishRich books have been published in more than 15 languages, with more than 7 million copies in print. A renowned motivational and financial speaker, Bach regularly speaks at the world's leading financial service firms, Fortune 500 companies, universities, and national conferences. Prior to founding FinishRich Media, he was a senior vice president of Morgan Stanley and a partner of The Bach Group, which during his tenure (1993 to 2001) managed more than half a billion dollars for individual investors. Bach is also the creator of the FinishRich® seminar series, which highlights his quick and easy-to-follow financial strategies, and which has been taught to more than 750,000 people nationwide. Among multiple other media appearances, he has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show and is a regular guest on NBC's Today's Money 911 segment.
About Equifax (www.equifax.com)
Equifax is a global leader in information solutions, leveraging one of the largest sources of consumer and commercial data, along with advanced analytics and proprietary technology, to create customized insights that enrich both the performance of businesses and the lives of consumers. Customers have trusted Equifax for more than 100 years to deliver innovative solutions with the highest integrity and reliability. Businesses - large and small - rely on them for consumer and business credit intelligence, portfolio management, fraud detection, decision technology, marketing tools, and much more. Equifax empowers individual consumers to manage their personal credit information, protect their identity, and maximize their financial well-being.
Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Equifax Inc. operates in the U.S. and 14 other countries throughout North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia. Equifax is a member of Standard & Poor's (S&P) 500(R) Index. Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol EFX.
+Insurance underwritten by member companies of American International Group, Inc. The description herein is a summary only. It does not include all terms, conditions and exclusions of the policies described. Please refer to the actual policies for complete details of coverage and exclusions.
Debt Wise™ does not provide debt management advice, credit counseling, financial planning or counseling, and will not act as an intermediary between subscribers and their lenders/creditors. Subscribers must continue to pay their lenders/creditors directly in accordance with their terms. Debt Wise™ will not improve or repair subscribers' credit history or score, or debt-to-income ratio. Debt Wise™ is not available in NV, UT, or DC. See www.debtwise.com for important additional information.
* The Equifax Consumer Credit Trends Report is the source of the research highlighted above. Distributed to customers, this monthly report provides credit trend data (in aggregate) for bankcard, consumer finance/retail, auto finance, auto bank, home equity revolving and first mortgage loans, among other metrics.
For this research, Equifax analyzed quarterly data on consumers with more than one tradeline (installment loan or revolving account) on their credit file. The information is sourced from a sample of the Equifax credit database and applied to predict trends across the overall population.
For more than a decade, Equifax Analytical Services has provided analytic solutions to businesses. Using a wide range of statistical techniques, our consultants design, develop and implement custom analysis and credit scores and generic analytical models for target marketing and portfolio management programs. With Equifax Analytical Services, customers can gain access to economic, demographic and general credit trend data through creditforecast.com, a forecasting tool built by Equifax and Moody's Economy.com.
**Statistical reference based on consumer credit data from the Federal Reserve Board's G.19 release which can be found at http://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/g19/Current/ .
SOURCE Equifax
CONTACT: Megan Jentz, +1-404-214-3578, mjentz@jacksonspalding.com; Demitra Wilson, +1-678-795-7885, demitra.wilson@equifax.com
Web Site: http://www.equifax.com
Monday, January 24, 2011
Google Launch Nexus S:
If you think Google Nexus One is something special, then the new Google Nexus S is extra special. The following news report is a complete audio-visual review of Nexus S. Enjoy it and see why this new cute and sleek smart phone is going to be a "I must own one" collectors item in 2011. But I believe the best is still yet to come in the smart phone revolution.
24 Jan 2011 13:14 Africa/Lagos
Google Launch The New Nexus
PR Newswire
LONDON, Jan. 24, 2011
LONDON, Jan. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The new Nexus S is the second Smartphone offering from Google who are keen to show they are serious about having a presence in the mobile phone market.
The device which is also being referred to as Nexus 2, is fast, fluid and sporting the latest technology from the new Android 2.3 gingerbread operating.
The screen is a bright, crisp and clear 4" AMOLED screen which ensures up to one and a half times more luminance than LCD displays traditionally found on many Smartphone.
The device also has new Touchscreen sensors making the multitouch keyboard experience much better than its predecessor and Anti-fingerprint display coating.
A 1GHz Hummingbird processor ensures easy multi tasking, web browsing and gaming experience via a dedicated graphics processor.
A dedicated Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) makes playing video games, viewing images and watching videos a much better flow and richer experience.
The internal 16GB memory has enough capacity to store all but the most demanding uses for music, photos, videos and games. There is no expansion card slot for a memory card.
The Nexus S also comes with future technology advances including the latest NFC wireless payment technology. The technology allows you to read information from smart tags or objects that have NFC chips. This is a major innovation as it brings payment technology to pay for goods and services simply by swiping similar to the one touch swipe and go Barclaycard.
Gingerbread supports internet calling with its inbuilt SIP stack you can easily access VOIP from contacts, dialer or the quick contacts tab.
Other features include turn by turn navigation, 3D landmarks and Streetview from the latest Google and a 5 mega pixel back and front facing lens with LED flash.
The look and feel is similar to the Samsung Galaxy S with a curved ergonomically designed AMOLED display which is the first contour glass display on a Smartphone.
The Nexus S WIFI hotspots can act as a 3g connection router for portable WIFI device for up to six portable devices such as notebooks, tablet PCs and once connected these devices will have access to internet with no added carrier fees.
The 1500mAh battery gives impressive running time easily allowing you to talk for over 20 hours.
The Google Nexus S is currently available to order on O2, Orange, T-Mobile and Vodafone from 30.64 pounds/month, and on Pay As You Go for 429.99 pounds from carphone warehouse and its subsidiaries like mobiles.co.uk.
SOURCE Mobiles.co.uk
CONTACT: Mobiles.co.uk, 0752 574 3715, http://www.mobiles.co.uk
Web Site: http://www.mobiles.co.uk
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Oleku the Video-Ice Prince Feat. Brymo
The is the official Oleku Video of Ice Prince Featuring Brymo.
I have watched Ice Prince in a live performance of his hit single Oleku and seeing this video is really going to increase his mileage and patronage.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Four women raped in North Darfur
21 Jan 2011 13:13 Africa/Lagos
Darfur / UNAMID Daily Media Brief
EL FASHER (DARFUR), January 21, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- UNAMID Daily Media Brief / 2011-01-20
Four women raped in North Darfur
UNAMID yesterday confirmed reports that four women were raped and beaten by three armed men, near the village of Dorma (25 km north of Tawilla, North Darfur). The Mission will follow up the case with the Sudanese police.
Update on students injured in El Fasher
Three of the students injured during a shooting incident at a high-school in El Fasher, North Darfur, on 18 January, have been evacuated by local authorities to Khartoum for medical treatment. One of them is listed in critical condition.
Peace agreement in South Darfur
On 18 January UNAMID senior officials attended the signing ceremony of a peace agreement between Sudan Liberation Army / Historic (SLA/H), a breakaway faction of Sudan Liberation Army / Abdul Wahid (SLA/AW), and the Government of the Sudan in Bali Siref. The village is located within the northern edge of Jebel Marra mountains and lies about 30 Km north of El Malam town, South Darfur. The Mission also provided logistic support to the event, airlifting some of the participants.
Provisional results of the referendum in Darfur
The provisional results of the South Sudan referendum, provided by South Sudan Referendum Commission (SSRC) and UNMIS, indicate that 55 per cent of participants voted for unity in Darfur. A total of 12,036 people cast their ballot, out of 23,121 registered in the region, representing 52 per cent. The final results of the referendum are to be published on 14 February at the latest.
UNAMID provided logistical support to the SSRC, transporting material by air from El Fasher and El Geneina to Khartoum.
UNAMID patrols
UNAMID military conducted 120 patrols including routine, short-range, long-range, night and humanitarian escort patrols covering 80 villages and IDP camps.
UNAMID police advisors conducted 127 patrols in villages and IDP camps.
Source: United Nations - African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID)
FORTUNE's 2011 '100 Best Companies to Work For'
Darfur / UNAMID Daily Media Brief
EL FASHER (DARFUR), January 21, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- UNAMID Daily Media Brief / 2011-01-20
Four women raped in North Darfur
UNAMID yesterday confirmed reports that four women were raped and beaten by three armed men, near the village of Dorma (25 km north of Tawilla, North Darfur). The Mission will follow up the case with the Sudanese police.
Update on students injured in El Fasher
Three of the students injured during a shooting incident at a high-school in El Fasher, North Darfur, on 18 January, have been evacuated by local authorities to Khartoum for medical treatment. One of them is listed in critical condition.
Peace agreement in South Darfur
On 18 January UNAMID senior officials attended the signing ceremony of a peace agreement between Sudan Liberation Army / Historic (SLA/H), a breakaway faction of Sudan Liberation Army / Abdul Wahid (SLA/AW), and the Government of the Sudan in Bali Siref. The village is located within the northern edge of Jebel Marra mountains and lies about 30 Km north of El Malam town, South Darfur. The Mission also provided logistic support to the event, airlifting some of the participants.
Provisional results of the referendum in Darfur
The provisional results of the South Sudan referendum, provided by South Sudan Referendum Commission (SSRC) and UNMIS, indicate that 55 per cent of participants voted for unity in Darfur. A total of 12,036 people cast their ballot, out of 23,121 registered in the region, representing 52 per cent. The final results of the referendum are to be published on 14 February at the latest.
UNAMID provided logistical support to the SSRC, transporting material by air from El Fasher and El Geneina to Khartoum.
UNAMID patrols
UNAMID military conducted 120 patrols including routine, short-range, long-range, night and humanitarian escort patrols covering 80 villages and IDP camps.
UNAMID police advisors conducted 127 patrols in villages and IDP camps.
Source: United Nations - African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID)
FORTUNE's 2011 '100 Best Companies to Work For'
Thursday, January 20, 2011
iJET Outlines Risk Landscape in Nigeria and other countries for 2011
19 Jan 2011 18:22 Africa/Lagos
iJET Outlines Risk Landscape for 2011
Intelligence Firm Issues Recommendations for Protecting Travelers, Operations and Supply Chains
PR Newswire
ANNAPOLIS, Md., Jan. 19, 2011
ANNAPOLIS, Md., Jan. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- iJET Intelligent Risk Systems, a leading provider of global intelligence and business resiliency services, today outlined the major risks and trends that it anticipates will most significantly affect business travel, risk management and resiliency planning in 2011.
"As businesses continue to expand globally, it becomes increasingly important for organizations to understand, track and plan for a myriad of risks that can jeopardize their success," said Steve Hoffman, CEO of iJET. "Leveraging our team of world-class intelligence experts, iJET has provided a critical look at the year ahead and forecasts events that could have the greatest impact on our clients' day-to-day operations, enabling them to better survive and thrive amidst a growing threat landscape."
iJET's analysts predict that many of the issues faced by businesses in 2010 will continue to remain a concern in the coming year. These include economic volatility in Europe, Latin America and Africa , drug-related violence in Mexico and neighboring Latin American countries, and the ongoing challenges surrounding airline passenger security. iJET also warns organizations to watch for a number of developing risks that could threaten business operations and travel around the globe.
A regional breakdown of the forecasted areas of concern for 2011 include:
* The Americas: 2011 will be a critical year for Guatemala as it combats a surge in drug cartel-related violence spilling over from Mexico. Increased government instability could materialize in Nicaragua and Honduras resulting in civil unrest, while important elections in Argentina , Peru , Ecuador and Bolivia could perpetuate political instability and violent protests.
* Europe : Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is expected to announce early in 2011 whether he will run for president in elections slated for 2012. There are fears that civil unrest would grow more common if Putin makes a run for the office he previously held for the maximum allowable term limit. He undoubtedly enjoys more de jure power as prime minister, but many suspect he won't be able to help himself, and that he will attempt to replace incumbent Dmitry Medvedev, who many view as a "placeholder" until Putin returns.
* Middle East/ North Africa : Presidential elections taking place November 2011 in Egypt have the potential to spur civil unrest before, during and after voting, especially in light of the overthrow of Tunisia 's regime, which many unfavorably compare to Hosni Mubarak's decades-old autocratic regime. Continued violence can be expected in Yemen , further exacerbated by the release of diplomatic cables by WikiLeaks in late 2010. In addition, Saudi Arabia may face issues with succession that could bring uncertainty and instability. Lebanon awaits on tenterhooks the verdict in the death of Rafik Hariri, and the controversy will keep regional politics – already perennially unstable - particularly unsettled.
* Africa : The ongoing battle for the presidency of Cote d'Ivoire will strongly influence a number of key political referendums and elections that will take place throughout Africa in 2011, including: Zimbabwe , Southern Sudan , Nigeria , Liberia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo . If Cote d'Ivoire's incumbent president refuses to resign, leaders in other African nations could follow suit and threaten the positive governance trends across the continent. The outcome of the coming divorce between Sudan and South Sudan will also resonate strongly across Africa and beyond and could embolden less worthy separatist movements elsewhere.
* Asia : Succession issues could arise in Thailand leading to another wave of violent protests and riots, and uncertainty and animosity between the two Koreas will keep the region unsettled. Pakistan and Afghanistan will continue to pose grave challenges for the region and the world.
In addition to regional threats, recent events such as Haiti's category 7.0 earthquake and the Eyjafjallajokull ash cloud crisis reveal that other unforeseeable events such as natural disasters and terrorist incidents continue to remain a threat to business operations in 2011.
Finally, with outbreaks of H1N1 on the decline, pandemic-sized health threats are not expected for 2011. However, iJET cautions organizations to monitor seasonal influenzas and other health risks – such as the recent Cholera outbreak in Haiti – closely as epidemics are also unpredictable.
For more information, including tips for mitigating risks and additional resources to help your organization, please visit iJET's Resiliency Resource Page at www.ijet.com/tips.
About iJET Intelligent Risk Systems
iJET Intelligent Risk Systems (iJET) is an intelligence-driven provider of business resiliency and risk management solutions to nearly 500 multinational corporations and governments – helping them survive and thrive amidst global threats to their people, facilities and supply chain assets.
iJET's services, team of world-class intelligence analysts and patented Worldcue® Global Control Center technology solutions equip decision-makers and organizations with real-time information to anticipate, respond to and emerge from business disruptions with a competitive edge. iJET's Worldcue solutions provide decision makers with timely, actionable intelligence on potential disruptions and emerging threats to employees, operating assets and suppliers.
iJET®, Travel Intelligence and Worldcue® are registered trademarks of iJET Intelligent Risk Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.
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SOURCE iJET Intelligent Risk Systems
CONTACT: Marisa Hagerman, DBC PR+New Media, +1-202-292-4570, Marisa@dbcpr.com
Web Site: http://www.ijet.com
Africa/Lagos time 19 Jan 2011
19:49 Itzhak Perlman and Chicago Symphony Orchestra Join Rotary's Effort to End Polio Now
18:22 iJET Outlines Risk Landscape for 2011
10:00 Political Risk Rising: 2011 Aon Political Risk Map
14 Jan 2011
17:51 Educators Teach Next Generation of Entrepreneurs at Price-Babson Symposium for Entrepreneurship Educators
iJET Outlines Risk Landscape for 2011
Intelligence Firm Issues Recommendations for Protecting Travelers, Operations and Supply Chains
PR Newswire
ANNAPOLIS, Md., Jan. 19, 2011
ANNAPOLIS, Md., Jan. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- iJET Intelligent Risk Systems, a leading provider of global intelligence and business resiliency services, today outlined the major risks and trends that it anticipates will most significantly affect business travel, risk management and resiliency planning in 2011.
"As businesses continue to expand globally, it becomes increasingly important for organizations to understand, track and plan for a myriad of risks that can jeopardize their success," said Steve Hoffman, CEO of iJET. "Leveraging our team of world-class intelligence experts, iJET has provided a critical look at the year ahead and forecasts events that could have the greatest impact on our clients' day-to-day operations, enabling them to better survive and thrive amidst a growing threat landscape."
iJET's analysts predict that many of the issues faced by businesses in 2010 will continue to remain a concern in the coming year. These include economic volatility in Europe, Latin America and Africa , drug-related violence in Mexico and neighboring Latin American countries, and the ongoing challenges surrounding airline passenger security. iJET also warns organizations to watch for a number of developing risks that could threaten business operations and travel around the globe.
A regional breakdown of the forecasted areas of concern for 2011 include:
* The Americas: 2011 will be a critical year for Guatemala as it combats a surge in drug cartel-related violence spilling over from Mexico. Increased government instability could materialize in Nicaragua and Honduras resulting in civil unrest, while important elections in Argentina , Peru , Ecuador and Bolivia could perpetuate political instability and violent protests.
* Europe : Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is expected to announce early in 2011 whether he will run for president in elections slated for 2012. There are fears that civil unrest would grow more common if Putin makes a run for the office he previously held for the maximum allowable term limit. He undoubtedly enjoys more de jure power as prime minister, but many suspect he won't be able to help himself, and that he will attempt to replace incumbent Dmitry Medvedev, who many view as a "placeholder" until Putin returns.
* Middle East/ North Africa : Presidential elections taking place November 2011 in Egypt have the potential to spur civil unrest before, during and after voting, especially in light of the overthrow of Tunisia 's regime, which many unfavorably compare to Hosni Mubarak's decades-old autocratic regime. Continued violence can be expected in Yemen , further exacerbated by the release of diplomatic cables by WikiLeaks in late 2010. In addition, Saudi Arabia may face issues with succession that could bring uncertainty and instability. Lebanon awaits on tenterhooks the verdict in the death of Rafik Hariri, and the controversy will keep regional politics – already perennially unstable - particularly unsettled.
* Africa : The ongoing battle for the presidency of Cote d'Ivoire will strongly influence a number of key political referendums and elections that will take place throughout Africa in 2011, including: Zimbabwe , Southern Sudan , Nigeria , Liberia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo . If Cote d'Ivoire's incumbent president refuses to resign, leaders in other African nations could follow suit and threaten the positive governance trends across the continent. The outcome of the coming divorce between Sudan and South Sudan will also resonate strongly across Africa and beyond and could embolden less worthy separatist movements elsewhere.
* Asia : Succession issues could arise in Thailand leading to another wave of violent protests and riots, and uncertainty and animosity between the two Koreas will keep the region unsettled. Pakistan and Afghanistan will continue to pose grave challenges for the region and the world.
In addition to regional threats, recent events such as Haiti's category 7.0 earthquake and the Eyjafjallajokull ash cloud crisis reveal that other unforeseeable events such as natural disasters and terrorist incidents continue to remain a threat to business operations in 2011.
Finally, with outbreaks of H1N1 on the decline, pandemic-sized health threats are not expected for 2011. However, iJET cautions organizations to monitor seasonal influenzas and other health risks – such as the recent Cholera outbreak in Haiti – closely as epidemics are also unpredictable.
For more information, including tips for mitigating risks and additional resources to help your organization, please visit iJET's Resiliency Resource Page at www.ijet.com/tips.
About iJET Intelligent Risk Systems
iJET Intelligent Risk Systems (iJET) is an intelligence-driven provider of business resiliency and risk management solutions to nearly 500 multinational corporations and governments – helping them survive and thrive amidst global threats to their people, facilities and supply chain assets.
iJET's services, team of world-class intelligence analysts and patented Worldcue® Global Control Center technology solutions equip decision-makers and organizations with real-time information to anticipate, respond to and emerge from business disruptions with a competitive edge. iJET's Worldcue solutions provide decision makers with timely, actionable intelligence on potential disruptions and emerging threats to employees, operating assets and suppliers.
iJET®, Travel Intelligence and Worldcue® are registered trademarks of iJET Intelligent Risk Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Web Site: http://www.ijet.com
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Two African films compete for Foreign Language Oscar
Two African films, Outside the Law from Algeria and Life Above All from South Africa are among the 9 films that will advance to the next round of voting in the Foreign Language Film category for the 83rd Academy Awards. They were selected from 66 films that qualified in the category.
Notably is Rachid Bouchareb’s "Outside the Law," the French-Algerian film that annoyed French Prime Minister Nicolas Sarkozy's political party, who wanted the film banned at the last Cannes Film Festival, because “it denigrates France and the French military."
"Outside the Law", tells the story of three brothers who fought for Algeria's independence from France after World War II. After losing their family home in Algeria, three brothers were scattered across the globe. Messaoud joined the French army fighting in Indochina; Abdelkader became a leader of the Algerian independence movement; whilst Said moved to Paris to make his fortune in the shady clubs and boxing halls of Pigalle. Gradually, their interconnecting destinies reunited them in the French capital, where freedom is a battle to be fought and won.
"Life, Above All" an emotional and universal drama about a young girl who fought the fear and shame that have poisoned her community. It was directed by South African filmmaker Oliver Schmitz who adapted the international award winning novel "Chanda's Secrets" by Allan Stratton.
Chanda, 16, is a smart and determined South African girl on track to win a scholarship – but she’s suddenly thrust into an impossible situation, forcing her to adopt maturity beyond her years. When we first meet her, she’s making funeral arrangements for her year-old sister, Sara. If people begin to suspect Sara’s death was due to more than a passing flu, Chanda will be faced with shame and stigma, not only for the victim, but also for their entire family.
When Lilian’s (Chanda’s mother) illness becomes impossible to hide, their nosy, eccentric next-door neighbor, Mrs. Tafa, engages a spirit doctor to perform a startling ritual. The spirit doctor determines that a curse is hanging over her and her children. In order to lift it, Lilian must return to the village from where she was banished decades before, leaving Chanda alone to care for her siblings.
Meanwhile, Chanda’s best friend, Esther, has turned to prostitution in a desperate attempt to survive and reunite her own family. Though the community shuns Esther, Chanda refuses to reject her friend. To the horror of those around her, Chanda opens her house to Esther at her friend’s moment of greatest need. That’s just the beginning of Chanda’s fight against convention.
When Chanda discovers that her mother may have gone away to die in order to spare her children shame, she ignores the cautions of the meddling Mrs. Tafa, and embarks on a fateful journey to bring her mother home. And in doing so, challenges the people around her to reject their prejudices and embrace the truth.
The 9 films, listed in alphabetical order by country, are:
Algeria, “Outside the Law”), Rachid Bouchareb, director;
Canada, “Incendies,” Denis Villeneuve, director;
Denmark, “In a Better World,” Susanne Bier, director;
Greece, “Dogtooth,” Yorgos Lanthimos, director;
Japan, “Confessions,” Tetsuya Nakashima, director;
Mexico, “Biutiful,” Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, director;
South Africa, “Life, above All,” Oliver Schmitz, director;
Spain, “Tambien la Lluvia” (“Even the Rain”), Iciar Bollain, director;
Sweden, “Simple Simon,” Andreas Ohman, director.
~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima
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