Political Upheaval Prompts Rethink on Terrorism Risk Management

7 Jun 2011 13:00 Africa/Lagos


Political Upheaval Prompts Rethink on Terrorism Risk Management: Aon Map
Political violence, strikes and war join terrorism as key threats to businesses

PR Newswire

CHICAGO and LONDON, June 7, 2011

CHICAGO and LONDON, June 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Political violence, strikes, riots, civil war and war threaten the sustainable growth, continuity and profitability of businesses as much as terrorism, according to Aon Risk Solutions, the risk management business of Aon Corporation (NYSE: AON). Consequently, for the first time in its 10-year history, Aon's annual Terrorism Threat Map now also takes these factors into account in assessing the severity of threats businesses face around the world.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100719/AQ37264LOGO)

The 2011 Aon Terrorism and Political Violence Map shows increased risk of political violence in the Middle East and North Africa, reflecting the significant turbulence of the Arab Spring uprisings in the region. The risk of coup d'etat and rebellions in Africa reflect a continent that presents a significant political violence risk. Civil unrest and labor disputes arising from austerity measures in Western European nations such as Greece, France, Spain and the UK are also reflected on the map. Meanwhile, terrorism continues to severely afflict established conflict zones like Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Somalia as well as parts of Nigeria and the Sahel region. The threat of occasional acts of international terrorism remains significant for most Western nations and major powers.

The map, produced by Aon in collaboration with the security consultancy firm Janusian, which is part of The Risk Advisory Group, reflects data recorded by Terrorism Tracker*, which monitors global indicators of terrorism threat, including attacks, plots, communiqués and government countermeasures, Aon WorldAware*, which provides country risk information for business travelers and an expert assessment of the security situation in more than 200 countries. Each country is assigned a threat level, starting at negligible, and rising through low, medium, high and severe.

The Aon Terrorism and Political Violence Map acts as a gauge for the intensity of the threat of political violence to international business in each country and three icons indicate the forms of political violence likely to be encountered:

* Terrorism and sabotage
* Strikes, riots, civil commotion and malicious damage to property
* Political insurrection, revolution, rebellion, mutiny, coup d'etat, war and civil war


Neil Henderson , head of terrorism in Aon Risk Solutions' Crisis Management team, commented: "While the attacks of September 11 were the genesis for the Aon Terrorism Threat Map, the issues that should be of most concern to people and businesses have evolved greatly in the nearly 10 years since. While terrorism remains a very real threat around the world, the reality is that threats to business continuity are also coming from political violence in all its many forms. The change in the way the map is scored should not be seen as a decrease in the incidence or severity of terrorist threats, but rather the fact that it provides businesses with a more inclusive view of some of the risk management issues they are facing around the world.

"Businesses should, as a first step, identify the threats they face and implement a comprehensive risk management program to protect their employees, physical assets and ultimately, their bottom line. As the insurance market for terrorism insurance is very mature and can cope with complex international risks, it should be considered as part of a sound risk management program."

Dr. David Claridge , managing director of Janusian , added: "The threat of terrorism remains a daily concern for business risk managers. Islamist terrorist groups continue to pursue a global agenda, illustrated by plots such as Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula's attempt to bomb cargo planes last October last year as well as internationalizing local grievances by attacking targets like Moscow's Domodedovo airport, which was bombed in January.

"The uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa have highlighted the need for risk managers to take a comprehensive approach by assessing exposure to political violence in all its forms."

Access to Aon's online 2011 Terrorism and Political Violence Threat Map and hard copies can be requested via http://www.aon.com/terrorismmap.

*Notes to editors

A collaboration between Aon and Janusian, Terrorism Tracker is a set of tools to help businesses assess and manage terrorism risk. At its center is the Terrorism Tracker database, which allows subscribers to conduct their own research on terrorist activity around the world and display their results using Google Maps. The database informs Janusian's ratings for the annual Aon map and supports a monthly newsletter available to Aon's clients.

Terrorism threat is defined as an assessment of the intent and capability that terrorist groups will stage attacks and the likelihood that they will succeed.

Aon WorldAware is a country risk information service available online to Aon clients as well as via mobile apps. The information is provided by Janusian and is updated on a daily basis to reflect the ever changing political and security situations around the world.

Follow Aon on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/aoncorp

Sign up for News Alerts: http://aon.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=58

About Aon

Aon Corporation (NYSE: AON) is the leading global provider of risk management services, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, and human resources solutions and outsourcing. Through its more than 59,000 colleagues worldwide, Aon unites to deliver distinctive client value via innovative and effective risk management and workforce productivity solutions. Aon's industry-leading global resources and technical expertise are delivered locally in over 120 countries. Named the world's best broker by Euromoney magazine's 2008, 2009 and 2010 Insurance Survey, Aon also ranked highest on Business Insurance 's listing of the world's insurance brokers based on commercial retail, wholesale, reinsurance and personal lines brokerage revenues in 2008 and 2009. A.M. Best deemed Aon the number one insurance broker based on revenues in 2007, 2008 and 2009, and Aon was voted best insurance intermediary 2007-2010, best reinsurance intermediary 2006-2010, best captives manager 2009-2010, and best employee benefits consulting firm 2007-2009 by the readers of Business Insurance. Visit http://www.aon.com for more information on Aon and http://www.aon.com/manchesterunited to learn about Aon's global partnership and shirt sponsorship with Manchester United.

About Risk Advisory and Janusian

The Risk Advisory Group is an intelligence, investigations and security company. Risk Advisory guides corporations, financial institutions and individuals through an increasingly complex international environment. It operates under two brands: Risk Advisory, specialising in intelligence and investigations services, and Janusian, whose services include security analysis, security operations and political risk analysis. For more information please see www.riskadvisory.net.

David Skapinker


Kelly Drinkwine


+44.(0)20.7505.7478


+312.381.2684


david.skapinker@aon.co.uk


kelly.drinkwine@aon.com




SOURCE Aon Corporation

Web Site: http://www.aon.com

Hollywood icons gather to honour Legendary Actor Morgan Freeman

Legendary Actor Morgan Freeman

6 Jun 2011 21:26 Africa/Lagos


Clint Eastwood, Helen Mirren, Sidney Poitier, Mike Nichols, Matthew Broderick, Rita Moreno and Many More Among Those Honoring Legendary Actor Morgan Freeman at the 39th AFI Life Achievement Award Ceremony
Honor Takes Place At Historic Sony Pictures Studios Thursday, June 9, 2011 At 7:00 p.m.

Show Premieres On TV Land Sunday, June 19, 2011 At 9:00 p.m. ET/PT

PR Newswire

LOS ANGELES, June 6, 2011

LOS ANGELES, June 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- AFI and TV Land announced today that Clint Eastwood, Helen Mirren, Sidney Poitier, Mike Nichols, Matthew Broderick and Rita Moreno are among the luminaries in film who will pay tribute to Morgan Freeman, the 39th AFI Life Achievement Award recipient. AFI will present its highest honor for a career in film to Freeman in Los Angeles on June 9 at Sony Pictures Studios. "TV Land Presents: The AFI Life Achievement Award Honoring Morgan Freeman" will air on TV Land on Sunday, June 19, 2011 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT .

Eastwood, Poitier and Nichols are all past AFI Life Achievement Award recipients.

Clint Eastwood, who received the AFI Life Achievement Award in 1996, has worked with Morgan Freeman many times over the years with extraordinary results, in films such as "Unforgiven," the Oscar®-winning "Million Dollar Baby" and "Invictus."

Sidney Poitier is one of Freeman's biggest inspirations. In 1992, Freeman spoke at Poitier's AFI Life Achievement Award ceremony, where he said, "Every man has his own heaven and for me, heaven has always been being in the movies, and always in my heaven...I had one bright light...Sidney Poitier." Freeman will now share this accolade and a little slice of heaven with Poitier. Both actors took on the challenging task of playing former South African president, Nelson Mandela – Poitier in the television movie, "Mandela and de Klerk," and Freeman on the big screen in "Invictus."

Mike Nichols, who received the AFI Life Achievement Award last year, directed Freeman on Broadway in "The Country Girl" (2008).

Helen Mirren most recently worked with Freeman in the 2010 film, "Red," which also co-starred Bruce Willis and Mary-Louise Parker.

Rita Moreno co-starred alongside Freeman in PBS's "The Electric Company," which was Freeman's breakout role in television. The highly regarded children's educational program won several Emmy® Awards during its broadcast run.

Matthew Broderick worked with Freeman in "Glory," which was directed by Ed Zwick, produced by Pieter Jan Brugge and edited by Steven Rosenblum – all three are AFI Conservatory alumni. Rosenblum will receive the Franklin J. Schaffner Alumni Medal, awarded annually to an alumnus of AFI who best embodies talent, taste, dedication and commitment to quality filmmaking, as part of the Freeman gala.

The black-tie event will take place on historic Stage 15 at Sony Pictures Studios, where "The Wizard of Oz," "Grand Hotel," "Spiderman" and other classic movies were filmed. The stage will be transformed into an elegant ballroom to honor the storied career of Morgan Freeman. Proceeds from the AFI Life Achievement Award Gala directly support the Institute's national educational programs and the preservation of American film history.

About the American Film Institute

AFI is America's promise to preserve the history of the motion picture, to honor the artists and their work, and to educate the next generation of storytellers. AFI provides leadership in film, television and digital media and is dedicated to initiatives that engage the past, the present and the future of the moving image arts.

AFI preserves the legacy of America's film heritage through the AFI Catalog of Feature Films , an authoritative record of American films from 1893 to the present, and the AFI Archive, which contains rare footage from across the history of the moving image.

AFI honors the artists and their work through a variety of annual programs and special events, including the AFI Life Achievement Award and AFI Awards. For 39 years, the AFI Life Achievement Award has remained the highest honor for a career in film while AFI Awards, the Institute's almanac for the 21st century, honors the most outstanding motion pictures and television programs of the year. AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies television events and movie reference lists, as well as AFI Night at the Movies, have introduced and reintroduced classic American movies to millions of film lovers. And as the largest nonprofit exhibitor in the United States, AFI offers film enthusiasts a variety of events throughout the year, including AFI Fest presented by Audi, the longest running international film festival in Los Angeles; AFI-Discovery Channel Silverdocs, the largest documentary festival in the US; and year-round programming at the AFI Silver Theatre in the Washington, DC area.

AFI educates the next generation of storytellers at its world-renowned AFI Conservatory, offering a two-year Master of Fine Arts degree in six filmmaking disciplines: Cinematography, Directing, Editing, Producing, Production Design and Screenwriting. AFI also explores new digital technologies through special workshops.

Additional information about AFI is available at AFI.com.

About the AFI Life Achievement Award

The highest honor given for a career in film, the AFI Life Achievement Award was established by the AFI Board of Trustees on February 26, 1973. It is presented to a single honoree each year based on the following criteria as mandated through a resolution passed by the AFI Board of Trustees: "The recipient should be one whose talent has in a fundamental way advanced the film art; whose accomplishment has been acknowledged by scholars, critics, professional peers and the general public; and whose work has stood the test of time."

2011 AFI Life Achievement Award honoree Morgan Freeman joins an esteemed group of individuals who have been chosen for this distinguished honor since its inception in 1973: John Ford (1973), James Cagney (1974), Orson Welles (1975), William Wyler (1976), Bette Davis (1977), Henry Fonda (1978), Alfred Hitchcock (1979), James Stewart (1980), Fred Astaire (1981), Frank Capra (1982), John Huston (1983), Lillian Gish (1984), Gene Kelly (1985), Billy Wilder (1986), Barbara Stanwyck (1987), Jack Lemmon (1988), Gregory Peck (1989), Sir David Lean (1990), Kirk Douglas (1991), Sidney Poitier (1992), Elizabeth Taylor (1993), Jack Nicholson (1994), Steven Spielberg (1995), Clint Eastwood (1996), Martin Scorsese (1997), Robert Wise (1998), Dustin Hoffman (1999), Harrison Ford (2000), Barbra Streisand (2001), Tom Hanks (2002), Robert De Niro (2003), Meryl Streep (2004), George Lucas (2005), Sean Connery (2006), Al Pacino (2007), Warren Beatty (2008), Michael Douglas (2009) and Mike Nichols (2010).

About TV Land

TV Land is the programming destination featuring the best in entertainment on all platforms for consumers in their 40s and 50s. Consisting of original programming, classic and contemporary television series acquisitions, hit movies and a full-service Web site, TV Land is now seen in over 98 million U.S. homes.

Please log onto tvlandpress.com for up-to-the-minute information, press releases and photos.

TV Land and all related logos and titles are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.

About MTV Networks

MTV Networks, a division of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is one of the world's leading creators of entertainment content, with brands that engage and connect diverse audiences across television, online, mobile, games, virtual worlds and consumer products. The company's portfolio spans more than 150 television channels and 400 digital media properties worldwide, and includes MTV, VH1, CMT, Logo, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, Nick Jr., TeenNick, AddictingGames, Shockwave, Neopets, COMEDY CENTRAL, SPIKE, TV Land, Atom, and GameTrailers.

SOURCE TV Land

CONTACT: Vanessa Reyes Smith, +1-310-752-8081, Vanessa.reyes@tvland.com, or Jennifer Zaldivar-Clark, +1-212-846-8964, Jennifer.zaldivar@tvland.com, both of TV Land

Web Site: http://www.tvland.com

Book of the Month: ABC of True Love

Our Book of the Month is ABC of True Love by Christian Onyebuchi Nwankpa (Author)



Editorial Reviews

ABC of true love unveils the realization of the desire of every man and woman to love and to be loved. We all dream of a world without hate, a world without abuse. It all starts from the moment a man and a woman commits themselves to unite in mind and purpose. Is it possible to have a perfect, blissful and happy relationship that can stand the test of time? There is no other better way to achieve a fruitful and far reaching relationship than to see and approach it from the Creator’s blueprint. The author of this book has laid down principles and blueprints that uncover the mystery behind True Love and simple things that can be applied to give every relationship the needed spice. Do you want to unravel the secret of true love? check out the 10 Laws of love in this book. Do you want to spice up your dead relationship? check out the mystery behind this as you read along.

About the Author
Christian Nwankpa is the President/Executive Producer of Gu International pictures, a leading media production company. He is a prolific writer, a motivational speaker, relationship counsellor, business executive, a youth leader, a professional Banker, Born in Lagos, Nigeria. He earned a degree in mathematics from the University of Ilorin and a master degree in Business Administration from University of Lagos.

President Jonathan meets President Obama at the White House on Wednesday

Statement by the Press Secretary on the Visit of President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria to the White House

President Obama will welcome President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria to the White House on Wednesday, June 8.

The President looks forward to consulting with President Jonathan on the latest regional and global developments, and deepening our strong bilateral partnership.

Breaking News: Wanted People, Boko Haram Declares

Breaking News

Wanted People, Boko Haram Declares

On 05 June, the radical terrorist sect Boko Haram has declared the following people wanted in a statement reportedly dropped at various media houses by unknown persons yesterday.

Jima?atu Ahlus-Sunnah Lidda? Awati Wal Jihad translates roughly to ‘’People Commited to the Prophet’s Teachings for Propagation and Jihad is said to have considered the following people as police informants and enemies to their mission.

In a statement written in Hausa and Arabic reads in part: ‘’All praises go to the Almighty Allah, peace and blessings be upon Prophet Mohammed, the last of the Prophets.’’

The police informants and enemies said to be: Taju Yusuf, Pastor Emmanuel, Hon. Kazeem Konitan, Mallam Abubakar Usman, Imam Moshood, Bishop Moses, Pastor Sunday I. Peters and Bashiru Ahmed as well as corrupt politicians and police officers across the country.

It was re-called back last year September when the sect attempted Jail break in Bauchi, police recovered some provocative handbills being distributed by the sect where the names of these mentioned people are also listed.

‘’We will continue to fight to revenge the death of our leader and to achieve our mission, ensuring that all our enemies are eradicated Boko Haram said.

Thus far, existing Muslim-Christian tentions in Nigeria have had a destabilizing effect on the Nigerian state far outweighing by Boko Haram’s terrorist attacks. While these sectarian tensions simmer, all Boko Haram needs to do is to continue fuelling the fire with terror attacks against state institutions, government officials, and churches until the group becomes closer to achieving one of its more insidious objectives-launching Nigeria into a full-scale war according to terrorism monitor.


Source: Segun Awofadeji

Imo State: Owelle Rochas Not A Miracle Worker

Imo State: Owelle Rochas Not A Miracle Worker

~ By Nwaorgu Faustinus

Majority of Imo indigenes and non indigenes will agree to some extent that the butted past administration led by one of the most hated, alleged criminal cum 419ner, cunning, heartless etc, governor Ohakim who has earned for himself the above sobriquet as well as “Ikiri/ewi” during and after his wasteful campaign outing, proved to be a “sore’ Chief Executive ever produced in the annals of Imo State politics.

His perceived and proven commissions and omissions are largely responsible for his disastrous bowing out of the government house which most people see as good radiance to poor governance. However, this writer does not want to dwell on Mr. Ohakim’s political flaws which I know are in the realm of public knowledge but my advice to our nascent governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha is to guard himself from or against reenacting the tragedies of the past.

Dissecting the suitability of Owelle for the governorship post prior to gubernatorial poll, one Obi Nwakanma wrote, “Rochas Okorocha, the APGA candidate, is a very interesting character and deserves closer watch. His political history, his intellectual capacities, and his background indicate that he is also likely to bring into the state, a terrible regime of maladministration.”

Mr. Nwakanma pointed out thus, “All we need to arrive at this conclusion is simply to examine his conducts as Chairman of the National Airspace Management Agency. A little peep into his website indicates a serious lack of in sight. His great credential is of a “philanthropist” – Eze Umu-ogbeye, as the Igbo would put it. Charity is a good thing, but there is certainly a higher form of charity wherever there is equality; and I’m afraid that a cursory look at Okorocha does not satisfy the imperative for a 21st century administrator in Imo State.”

Whatever might be the reason behind Mr. Nwakanma’s conclusion may not be unconnected with his own purported personal interest - for he inclined to support the candidature of Mr. Emeka Nwajiuba of the Congress of Progressive Change CPC whom he endorsed on the grounds of being a young professional, well-educated, and astute politician among other credentials of the CPC candidate.

Before I left my base in Port Harcourt for Ngor/Okpala before the elections to exercise my franchise, I had already made up my mind to vote for Owelle Rochas base on his track record in granting scholarship to many students, his good name and philanthropic works that do not only resonate in Nigeria but also outside the shores of Nigeria. Calls came from both Nigeria and abroad on the need to rally support for this God, electorate-favored personality – Owelle Rochas. This, strengthen my conviction that he was the one most favoured, loved, legitimate and accepted candidate to occupy the government house and it came to pass – today he is the Governor of Imo State.

The truth is Imolites have high expectations from the successive government, led by Mr. Owelle Rochas. The question is, how he will go about to actualize such enormous aspiration and yearnings of Imo people given the present economic fortunes of the state, passed unto him by prodigious “Ikiri”? Such hopes include rapid and even distribution of infrastructural facilities; good roads, well equipped and staffed schools, health centers and hospitals and portable water across the twenty seven Local Government Areas. In addition, employment generation; prompt payment of pensioners and salaries of civil servants, protection of life and property, reduction in tuition fee of students in higher institutions among others are top in the minds of Imo people.

Needless to talk about the state of our roads, educational institutions, hospitals, health centers which are melancholic sights to behold, no thanks to past kleptomaniac regimes whose stock in trade is to line their pockets and stash our common patrimony in closely guarded foreign banks.

Though it has been said that Mr. Owelle Rochas is bighearted, but can only his generousity deliver the dividends of democracy at the door steps of Imolites? It is his deeply seated determination, persistence and the crop of likeminded personalities that would work with him who have the overall interest of Imo people at heart given the vital enablement (funds for the execution of people oriented projects) that will see him through. Any thing short of this will bring us back to where we were four years ago because you are not a miracle worker.


Therefore, you should have the necessary sights – insight, hindsight and foresight to be able to select those to work with you to lift Imo from its comatose state to El Dorado. The time to play out your rescue mission to the letter is now and brings Imo back to what it used to be when Sam Mbakwe was the Chief Executive.



Nwao(r)gu, Faustinus Chilee writes from Igboetche, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Mobile: +2348035601312. Email: fausteness@yahoo.com

8th Tarifa Film Festival Presents 148 African movies

6 Jun 2011 16:05 Africa/Lagos

8th Tarifa Film Festival Presents 148 African movies

TARIFA, June 6, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- 8th African Film Festival of Tarifa presents between 11th and 19th of June 148 movies from 23 African countries, which compete for 8 awards endowed with 46 500 euros. One of the biggest European festival of African cinema welcomes this year over 200 African filmmakers including legendary African directors Abderrahmane Sissako and Moustapha Alassane and focuses among others on African Diaspore in Latin America, the role of cinema in recent revolutions in Tunis and Egypt or restrospective of Congolese cinematography.


Festival is accompanied by 3rd Africa Produce Forum, where 10 African filmmakers compete with their projects to get funding from European producers, while 4th Photoafrica competition offers to African photographers 3 000 euros in prize money. Festival, which attracts every year over ten thousands of film fans, takes place on the southernmost tip of Spanish coast only 14 km from Morocco across the Strait of Gibraltar.


COMPETITION AND AWARDS


Feature-length fiction movies (The African Dream section), documentaries (On the Other Side of the Strait section) and short films (Africa in Short section) compete for 8 awards endowed with 46 500 euros. There are awards for the best feature-length movie (15 000 euros), direction (10 000 euros),actor and actress (1 500 euros each), documentary (10 000 euros), short movie (2 000 euros), short movie audiovisual creation (1 500 euros) and Audience Award for the best feature length movie (5 000 euro).


OUT OF COMPETITION


There are 3 non-competitive sections of the festival - Open Screen (classics of African cinema, film adaptations of African literature...), Africa Rhytm (films dedicated to African music and dance), AnimAfrica (African short-length animation films).


RETROSPECTIVE


Retrospective brings 4 sections focused on: Cinema and censorship / Cinema and democracy? (the case of Tunis and Egypt), Cinema of RD Congo (retrospective of Congolese cinematography from 60´s till the present), selection of movies regarding African Diaspore in Latin America and Carte Blanche of FIDADOC, selection of the films from Festival of documentary movies in Moroccan Agadir.


3rd AFRICA PRODUCE FORUM


Ten African film directors will be pitching their new film projects at the 3rd Africa Produce Co-Production Forum to Spanish film producers and TV commissioning editors including representatives of Al-Jazeera Documentary Channel.


There are 4 selected feature-length projects (Mettou, Abderrahmane Sissako, Mauritania, The Boda Boda Thieves, Donald Mugisha/Jamie Tayler, Uganda/South Africa, And Then The Rains Return, Yemane I. Demissie, Ethiopia, Le Ntih, Narcisse Wandji, Cameroon) and 3 documentaries (Un Día Vi 10.000 Elefantes, Pere Ortín/Ramón Esono, Equatorial Guinea/Spain, Parles a Eux, Maïmuna Ndiaye, Burkina Faso, Cenizas del Perdón, Gilbert Ndunga Nsangata, Congo/Spain)


Apart from that there are 3 guest projects to enrich the forum by their experiences: Asube (feature length project), Richard Jordan, Spain, Citizens Without Borders (feature-length project), Lexy Uyi Osunde, Nigeria/Spain, Jeanne d'Arc Masriya (documentary), Iman Kamel, Egypt.


4th PROHOTAFRICA


25 photographers from 11 African countries compete with their works in finale of 4th Photoafrica contest, which offers €3,000 in prize money through 3 awards and the topic of this year is “Urban Space”. The exhibiton of altogether 27 large format photographs will be inaugurated and installed outdoors in Tarifa before and through the festival and after its closure will be travelling the whole year through Spanish and African cities.

25 photographers competing at 4th Photoafrica: Abdelmohcine Nakari (Morroco), Aboubacar Traore (Mali), Adolphus Opara (Nigeria), Djibril Drame (Senegal), Georges Senga (RDC), James Muriuki (Kenya, Hlompho Letsielo, Lesotho, Resta Nyamwanza (Zimbabwe), Mário Macilau (Mozambique), Marwen Trabelsi (Tunis), Mimi Cherono (Kenya) and 13 photographers from South Africa: Noncedo Charmaine Mathibela, Roanne Sutcliffe, Anthony Purnell, Bianca Kerstein Vinay, Cendyl Charlton, Chandre Busschau, Costas Christodoulou, David Kutlwano Moagi, Davina Gokool, Hayden Brawn, Ihsaan Haffejee, Jessica MacLeod, Kristi Bailey.




Contact:

Filip Hruby

International Press Officer

African Film Festival of Tarifa (FCAT)

Mobile: +420/775 011 550

Skype: filip.hruby2409

gabineteprensa2@fcat.es


Source: 8th African Film Festival of Tarifa

Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time
6 Jun 2011
16:05	8th Tarifa Film Festival Presents 148 African movies
16:06	Statement by H. E. Dr. Jean Ping, Chairperson of the African Union Commission At the 8th Ordinary Session of the CISSA Conference Monday, 6 June 2011, Khartoum, Sudan
16:05	AGOA Pre-Forum Event

2011 MTV Movie Awards Winners

2011 MTV Movie Awards Winners




Best Male Performance: Robert Pattinson, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
Best Villain: Tom Felton, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1
Best Jaw Dropping Moment: Justin Bieber does… something, Never Say Never 3-D
Best Fight: Robert Pattinson vs. Bryce Dallas Howard & Xavier Samuel, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
Best Kiss: Robert Pattinson & Kristen Stewart, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
Best Line: Alexys Nycole Sanchez, Grown Ups (“I want to get chocolate-wasted!”)
Best Female Performance: Kristen Stewart, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
Best Comedic Performance: Emma Stone, Easy A
Best Movie: The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

Click here for the complete report with photos and videos. Enjoy!

Yemen is Burning!

Yemen is burning!
But who will save the innocent women and children?


The Yemeni uprising began when over16,000 protesters took to the steets of Sana'a on January 27 and continued in the following month in Aden in the February 3 "Day of Rage" led by Tawakel Karman. The protesters confronted the police and pro-government supporters. They wanted President Ali Abdullah Saleh to resign or be toppled. And the mass defections from the military and government offices have worsened the fate of President Saleh. They rejected his pleas that he would not run for reelection in 2013 and that he would not pass power to his son. Then in the "Friday of Anger" on February 18, there were widespread demonstrations in Taiz, Sana'a and Aden and continued on the "Friday of No Return" on 11 March, 2011 and civil war looms as over 350 people have been killed and President Saleh was wounded in rocket attacks on his presidential compound Friday.


The so called Arab Spring is more of a political revolution of indignation as the masses in the Middle East are fed up with their political rulers who have failed to reform and transform their societies since they have become implicated in the terrorist attacks of al-Qa'ida and other Islamic terrorist groups rubbishing and tarnishing the reputation of Arabs. Islamic terrorism has given Arabs a bad name and majority of them are innocent of these crimes and would prefer to live better, healthier, safer and wealthier lives without the stigma and trauma of Islamic terrorism. That is why they have revolted against their totalitarian leaders in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Bahrain, Syria, and Yemen with echoes in the rest of the Arab world as the masses unite in their common resolution screaming الشعب يريد إسقاط النظام‎, meaning "The people want to bring down the regime".


~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima

Ayoade's "Submarine" tops list of must see Indie movies

British Nigerian filmmaker Richard Ayoade's “Submarine” tops the list of Leonard Maltin’s five must see indie movies and you can see why and how he rated them on the Huffington Post.



1. Submarine
2. Cave of Forgotten Dreams
3. Midnight in Paris
4. Another Year
5. The Clowns

Ayoade is an only child of a Norwegian mother, Dagny (née Baassuik), and a Nigerian father, Layide Ade Laditi Ayoade.



The film is based on a prize-winning novel by Joe Dunthorne. It is a dark indie comedy about a 15-year-old Oliver Tate who has two objectives: To lose his virginity before his next birthday, and to extinguish the flame between his mother and an ex-lover who has resurfaced in her life.

Peter Bradshaw reviewing Submarine in the Guardian of Thursday 17 March 2011 15.00 GMT, said Ayoade clearly has “a big future payday for him in Hollywood, if he wants it, but I can't help hoping he develops in depth and scope here, as a tremendous new voice in British film.”


~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima