Top 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000

KBB.COM’S 2011 TOP 10 COOLEST NEW CARS UNDER $18,000: EDITORS RANK THIS YEAR’S BEST AFFORDABLE, COOL NEW CARS, PLACING 2012 FIAT 500 AT NO. 1

Personality-Filled, Amenity-Laden Vehicles Dominate This Year’s Kbb.com ‘Cool Cars’ List

IRVINE, Calif., June 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — The expert editors from Kelley Blue Book’s www.kbb.com, the leading provider of new car and used car information, today name the 2011 Top 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000. In a new twist on an annual list published by Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com, this year the editors ranked their top choices from 10 to one, naming the 2012 Fiat 500 as this year’s No. 1 affordable ‘Cool Car.’



Getting a bargain is special in good economic times, but in economic times like these -- when the economy is teetering, home prices continue to fall and fuel prices inexplicably bounce up to near-record levels -- getting a bargain is more special than ever.

Despite the rising specter of inflation, there are still plenty of new cars available for less than $18,000. Of course, all of them will accomplish the basic tasks that cars are engineered to accomplish – they go, they stop and they keep you out of the weather. But in the kbb.com editors’ vast experience with cars costing less than 18 grand, not all of them are cool, and certainly not all of them are fun. But then there are the select few, the cars that not only do everything one wants and needs a car to do, but those that also do it in an engaging and enjoyable manner.

“There are great deals to be had on many new cars under $18,000, but only a handful of them really possess that cool, difficult-to-describe ‘it’ factor,” said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com. “Each year the competition keeps getting tougher in this affordable segment, with more personality-filled, amenity-laden, versatile vehicles entering the marketplace. In ranking our top picks this year, the 2012 Fiat 500 took the top prize as our No. 1 choice. After 28 years out of the U.S. market, Fiat is making huge waves with the new 500 and in our books, it is the leader of the ‘Cool Cars’ parade.”

As you might imagine, two criteria -- fun-to-drive and fun-to-own -- are critical in the roll-up to what the editors freely admit is a very subjective "cool factor," the over-arching number-one criterion. Each of the cars on the list is available for purchase at $18,000 or less, using Kelley Blue Book’s exclusive Fair Purchase Price as the yardstick (Kelley Blue Book’s Fair Purchase Price is the price consumers typically are paying for a car, based on actual new-vehicle transactions and updated weekly for changing market conditions). Paying less than sticker also is pretty cool, so here, counting down from numbers 10 to one, are kbb.com’s Top 10 Coolest Cars Under $18,000:
Kbb.com’s 2011 Top 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000

10: 2011 Hyundai Elantra

Who knew good value could be so cool? The all-new 2011 Hyundai Elantra is an all-around package of slick design, convenient features and fuel-efficiency -- every Elantra gets 40 miles per gallon on the highway...
9: 2011 Nissan Cube

We agree with Huey Lewis: it is hip to be square, at least when it comes to a car like the Nissan Cube. The polarizing squares-meet-circles design theme gets a lot of attention, but the Cube’s attractiveness is more than skin deep, with features like a sliding and reclining second-row seat, an overabundance of head room and a headliner design that mimics the concentric circles created by a pebble dropped into a pond...
8. 2011 Volkswagen Jetta

Germany! It’s a country practically brimming with freaky coolness, exemplified by Rammstein, Kraftwerk and, of course, Volkswagen. The latest rendition of VW’s Jetta captures much of Germany’s quirky-cool spirit while being expressly engineered for an American appetite...
7. 2012 Ford Focus

European automakers have long subscribed to the idea that a well-packaged car doesn’t need to be large in size. Ripping a page out of that playbook, Ford has brought the compact, Euro-sweetened 2012 Focus to America, offering head-turning looks, sporty handling and a healthy standard equipment list in an efficient and affordable package...
6. 2012 Honda Civic

Cool doesn’t always have to be in your face. Take the 2012 Honda Civic, for example. Its attributes read like a thought-out online dating profile: Good looking but not flashy, low maintenance and easygoing…but happy be your partner in crime for any adventure (insert winky face here)...
5. 2011 Kia Forte Koup

Having an attractive car that others haven’t seen – that’s cool. The 2011 Kia Forte Koup isn’t just the sportiest-looking car on our list, its standard-equipment list includes a satellite-ready audio system, Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity and USB/iPod integration, so it looks cool and acts cool…
4. 2011 Honda Fit

Fun, flexible and funky, the Honda Fit remains an instantly unanimous choice for our annual cool cars list. Even the crisper, better-equipped Fit Sport comes in under our $18,000 ceiling...
3. 2011 Ford Fiesta

It’s on our list for the second year in a row and we have a feeling the Ford Fiesta is going to be another perennial favorite. Its European looks and well-crafted interior outclass everything else in the category, and its sharp driving dynamics and nimble handling still impress us every time we get behind the wheel...
2. 2011 Mazda3

At some point we’re going to have to give the Mazda3 a lifetime achievement award for its unequaled streak of appearances on our annual list of coolest cars. For the 8th year in a row – every year of the cars existence, in fact – the Mazda3 has earned a spot on our list for its standout sheet metal, excellent interior and exceptional driving dynamics...
1. 2012 Fiat 500

Regardless of what the Hello Kitty mafia would like to believe, cute isn’t cool. Not usually, anyway. But that’s because cute is rarely backed up by substance, as it is in the 2012 Fiat 500...

To see all of the information about this year’s ‘Cool Cars’ list, including full editorial commentary and reasoning behind each of the editors’ picks, visit the 2011 Top 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000 story in kbb.com’s Latest News section at http://www.kbb.com/car-news/all-the-latest/10-coolest-cars-under-18000-_-2011-edition/.

For more information and news from Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com, visit www.kbb.com/media/, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/kelleybluebook (or @kelleybluebook), or like our page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kbb.

About Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com)
Founded in 1926, Kelley Blue Book, The Trusted Resource®, is the only vehicle valuation and information source trusted and relied upon by both consumers and the industry. Each week the company provides the most market-reflective values in the industry on its top-rated website www.kbb.com, including its famous Blue Book® Trade-In and Retail Values and Fair Purchase Price, which reports what others are paying for new cars this week. The company also provides vehicle pricing and values through various products and services available to car dealers, auto manufacturers, finance and insurance companies as well as governmental agencies. Kbb.com is a leading provider of new car prices, used car values, car reviews, new cars for sale, used cars for sale, and car dealer locations. Kelley Blue Book Co. Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of AutoTrader.com.

Media Contacts:
Joanna Pinkham
(949) 268-3079
jpinkham@kbb.com
Brenna Robinson
(949) 267-4781
berobinson@kbb.com

U.N. secretary-general commits to defending press freedom

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

25 Jun 2011 10:06 Africa/Lagos



U.N. secretary-general commits to defending press freedom

PARIS, June 24, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Press freedom, particularly free expression online, will be a priority for newly re-elected U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the U.N. chief pledged today in a meeting with the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders.

The heads of both organizations said they were encouraged by statements made by the secretary-general in support of press freedom during the upheaval in the Middle East and North Africa.

"The uprisings in the Middle East have demonstrated that people all over the world are hungry for information and cherish their ability to communicate with one another," said CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon. "This is a basic human aspiration grounded in international law."

The organizations asked Ban, who at the beginning of his first term pledged to support journalists working in dangerous conditions, to use his new mandate to expand support for press freedom everywhere. Ban assured the delegation that addressing individual cases of press violations is a priority.

"The Internet, as a space for the free flow of information and ideas, is inextricably linked to free speech and the development of our societies," said Simon. "U.N. member states have a responsibility to their citizens to keep it free." In 2010, more than half of imprisoned journalists were working online, according to CPJ statistics. The delegation asked the secretary-general to build on his message issued on World Press Freedom Day in May by addressing cyber-attacks, censorship laws, and restriction of the Internet through regulation or the use of state power.

"We urged the secretary-general to strongly defend the journalists and bloggers currently detained or harassed in countries such as Yemen, Bahrain, Syria, and Libya," said Reporters Without Borders Secretary-General Jean-Francois Julliard. "We asked him to do whatever he can to stop the repression and protect all those who want to use their right of free expression. We raised the crucial need to protect free speech online, reminding him that one Internet user out of three in the world does not have access to a free Web."

CPJ and RSF welcomed the appointment of a special rapporteur for human rights in Iran and asked for the secretary-general's assistance in the case of two French journalists who were kidnapped over a year ago in Afghanistan.


Source: Reporters without Borders (RSF)

Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time

25 Jun 2011

14:00 Kofi Annan Warns the World's Hungry May Again Surpass the 1 Billion Mark Unless Global Community Takes Action

10:08 Remarks by the First Lady at Women's Leadership Luncheon, Gaborone, Botswana

10:06 U.N. secretary-general commits to defending press freedom

10:06 Women's football teams ‘Give AIDS the Red Card' to keep children free from HIV

24 Jun 2011

23:37 Moroccans Get Ready for Landmark Vote as Constitutional Reforms Win More Praise--from UN, Arab League, and Policy Experts

23:02 RT Launches RTDoc - Documentary Channel on Russia

21:23 Equatorial Guinea Opens African Union Summit

18:56 Equatorial Guinea Launches Official Government's Website in French

17:46 Senegal / End Attacks on Rights Activists / Government Should Investigate, Prosecute Assaults on Civil Society Leaders

Photo of the Week: Kerri Walsh against HIV/AIDS

Olympic athlete and women’s volleyball competitor Kerri Walsh uses her weapons-grade hotness in the fight against HIV/AIDS infection.

Women's football teams ‘Give AIDS the Red Card' to keep children free from HIV

25 Jun 2011 10:06 Africa/Lagos

Women's football teams ‘Give AIDS the Red Card' to keep children free from HIV

GENEVA, June 24, 2011/location>)/ -- Captains of national football teams competing in the upcoming FIFA Women's World Cup 2011 soccer championship in Germany are signing up to the Give AIDS the Red Card appeal in support of a global plan to eliminate new HIV infections among children by 2015. The Give AIDS the Red Card appeal, which was launched by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) one year ago at the FIFA 2010 World Cup in South Africa, uses the power and outreach of football to unite the world around stopping new HIV infections in children.


UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé said, “As the most important international competition in women's football, this tournament provides a platform to raise global awareness about the campaign to keep babies from becoming infected with HIV, and their mothers from dying from AIDS.”


Every day more than 1000 babies are born with HIV. However with access to HIV counseling and testing for pregnant women and their partners, and treatment when needed, the risk of transmission can be brought down to less than 5%.


On signing the pledge, team captains appeal to football players and fans across the world to ‘celebrate life and support the global campaign to prevent mothers from dying and babies from becoming infected with HIV'.


The FIFA Women's World Cup 2011 is taking place from 26 June to 17 July. So far five captains have signed the appeal; Faye White (England), Sandrine Soubeyrand (France), Rebecca Smith (New Zealand), Ingvild Stensland (Norway), and Christie Rampone (United States).


“One of the great things about representing our country on the big stages is the opportunity for us to support causes we care about,” said U.S. Women's World Cup Team captain Christie Rampone. “I signed onto a global campaign called Give AIDS the Red Card which helps to generate political action towards ending the AIDS epidemic among babies and young children around the world. I am confident about linking this noble cause with the game we all cherish.”


Rampone, who is among the more experienced U.S. players and will be playing in her fourth World Cup added, “UNAIDS asked the U.S. soccer team to help lead this campaign around the world, and we are happy to lend our support on a global stage to a global problem. The UN wants to end pediatric AIDS by 2015 and so do we!”


The captains of the other competing teams, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Equatorial Guinea, Germany, Japan, DPR Korea, Mexico, Nigeria, and Sweden, will also be encouraged to become “Red Card Advocates” by signing the appeal during the tournament and publicize global efforts to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV by 2015.


There are 34 million people globally living with HIV, of whom 22.5 million are in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite progress towards the goal of eliminating new HIV infections among children, in 2009 alone there were 370,000 children born with HIV, bringing to 2.5 million the total number of children under 15 living with HIV.


The 2011 Women's World Cup is one of several high-profile football championships, including the 2012 African Nations Cup and UEFA Euro 2012, leading up to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, that can provide platforms for raising wide awareness about the campaign to eliminate HIV in children.


Distributed by the Africa Press Organization (APO) on behalf of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)

Source: The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)

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Governor Rochas: Declare State Of Emergency in State Public Schools

Owelle Rochas Okorocha, Governor of Imo State


Governor Rochas: Declare State Of Emergency in State Public Schools

~ By Nwaorgu Faustinus


Though the 2011general elections in Imo state have come and gone, with particular reference to the governorship polls where the people’s candidate, Rochas Okorocha defeated the incumbent governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim who did not leave any stone unturned in opening his frightful financial political muscle in order to perpetuate himself in office, which of course did fail. What is the trend now are the comments, analyses, advice, suggestions, opinions and articles against and for the legality behind the dissolution of the 27 LGAs by the new administration in Imo State.


Primary School Pupils. Photo Credit: Imo State Blog

Now that the parties involved (the state government and the dissolved Council LGAs) are locked in a legal battle over the dissolution of the Council Areas, which is the constitutional thing to do, one can not forget in a hurry the first casualties of Oweelle Rochas’s action as he assumed office which political analysts and observers say will ever remain indelible in the minds of many. The court having taken over the
case, there should be cessation of comments because a case or dispute as the above is not trashed out on pages of newspapers or internet based media sites but in a competent court of law.


The kernel of this piece is the challenges or Herculean tasks that stare the state government in the face with respect to the education sector, which are multifaceted given the lean resources at its prudent use. One major area Chief Rochas Okorocha must take proactive step to revolutionalize is the education sector among other sectors. The importance of education is so invaluable that any state, society country or nation cannot toy with it. Education without mincing words is enlightenment and avenue of advancement which ought to be sustained for generation as according to Sunday Atomode, “it is a legacy which when bestowed cannot be withdrawn on any account except perhaps through inhuman degradation of brainwashing or disease that cause memory lost”. Therefore, education remains the upholder of the expectation, hope and yearnings for the poorest of the poor of society.


Without doubt, it is the eternal bequest any society, government,
administration or nation can give its citizen or natives. It is
therefore a commendable first step taken by the governor when he
announced that his government will give free education to primary and
secondary school students as well as review downwards school fees paid
in higher institutions as part of his party’s campaign promise and
education policy.


To achieve its education policy, the security votes of the Governor,
Deputy Governor, the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, the Chief Judge and
House Members was cut from 6.5 billion naira to 2.5 billion naira.
Given the premium the governor attaches to education, unlike previous
administrations, he toured many several primary and secondary schools
to have first hand information about the state of affairs in the
educational institutions which are in great pathetic situation,
capable of making one sigh, sad and wonder why the schools are the way
they are.


Given the deplorable state of most public primary and secondary
schools in Imo State, one wonders if the free education policy of the
current administration is a way of declaring a state of emergency in
that sector. If it is not, a total war should be unleashed in the
sector bearing in mind the mammoth decay in our citadels of learning
across the various Local Government Areas. A visit to most schools
will reveal great decay in infrastructure such as school buildings,
libraries, classrooms, toilets, laboratories among others. Amala/Ntu
Secondary School in Ngor/Okpala LGA can be used as a good reference
point of a school that has witnessed infrastructural decay and neglect
by previous administration on one hand and vandalization at the other.
Apart from these, there is depopulation of staff and students’
population in many rural primary and secondary schools, inadequate
teaching materials and seats. In the time past, it was a tradition or
policy of the government to equip schools with seats but today most
students, if not all go to market to purchase seats they use in
school.


In addition to free education given to primary and secondary school
students, the present administration should as a matter of urgency
renovate and build new structures that will accommodate new students,
poor students who dropped out of school and students who will leave
private schools soon for public schools as a result of the
introduction of free education in the state. Similarly, old or non
functional principal and teachers quarters should be renovated and new
ones built to accommodate some categories of teachers. Furthermore,
the governor should put a programme of action in place with a view to
making it compulsory for teachers to live in the school environment in
order to monitor the behaviour of students apart from being available
to assist them solve academic problems that are related to subjects
they teach. Their salary should be paid as at when due and promotion
extended to deserving ones to encourage them put in their best.


On the issue of limited number of staff in some primary and secondary
schools, the state government should deploy more teachers to schools
where their services are needed as there are schools that lack
teachers who will teach certain subjects. Lateness to school should
not be tolerated as there should be mechanism put in place to monitor
teachers. In this regard, unscheduled visits should be paid to schools
where the culture of late coming has been established with a view to
punishing culprits to serve as a deterrent to others. If need be,
teachers who are perpetual late comers should be dismissed. Students
who come to school late should also be punished adequately to
discourage others from doing the same.



Security in and around state public schools especially primary and
secondary schools should be encouraged by way of providing security
guards for the schools to protect life and property. Apart from
security, the state government should equip libraries, introductory
technology workshops, science laboratories among others in state
public schools. It is now the trend to set up computer laboratories to
encourage the teaching of computer in primary and secondary schools.
The state government should key into this by establishing computer
laboratory in the schools.


There should be training and retraining of teachers so as to gain
effective means of imparting knowledge into the students. This will go
along way in making the students to compete favourably with their
counterparts abroad.

Finally, the state government if need be, should borrow a leaf from
the education policy of Rivers State government if the words of Mr.
Abdulwaheed Omar, President of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) is any
thing to go by. According to him, "As a professional teacher I can
testify that the new schools built by the administration are a
reflection of focused leadership. As a teacher I am highly impressed
with this kind of school facilities provided by the Rivers State
Government for its children."

It could be recalled that governor Amaechi declared state of emergency
in the education sector when he assumed the administration of Rivers
State. Today, he has given a facelift to the sector.


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

Faruk Lasaki’s Nigerian premiere of Changing Faces at 2011 EKOIFF

Faruk Lasaki’s Nigerian premiere of Changing Faces at 2011 EKOIFF

The Nigerian premiere of Faruk Lasaki’s spiritual thriller "Changing Faces" will definitely thrill the audience at the second Eko International Film Festival at the Silverbird Galleria from July 9-14, 2011.

Faruk Lasaki is one of the ambitious filmmakers who are making Nigeria proud in the international arena by making movies that are quite different from the common Nollywood flicks. He is also an accomplished producer of award winning commercials and documentaries who got his first break with his 15 minutes short documentary "Scars" (CICATRIZES) that won him $20,000 at the É Tudo Verdade - Festival Internacional de Documentários in Brazil in 1998.

"Changing Faces" is a 92 minutes metaphysical romantic thriller on the transference of spirits through sex as ‘Two unlikely bedfellows share a night of passion’ and their lives were never the same again. The film parades an international cast of professional British and notable Nigerian actors and actresses Alex Lopez, Keppy Ekpeyong Bassey and Ayo Mogaji.

"Changing Faces" was premiered at the Pavillion les Cinema Du Sud of the 61st Cannes Film Festival., featured in competition at the Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO) in 2009, Cairo International Film Festival in 2009. Black Diaspora International Film Festival of New York in 2008.

“Changing Faces” was the first Nigerian film to be dubbed into French and screened at FESPACO and Ecrans Noirs in 2009. And on the 3rd and 6th of August 2009, Canal France International (CFI) presented it as the first Nigerian feature film on it’s network and interviewed the director Faruk Lasaki.

A man and a morass: Can Goodluck Jonathan clean up corruption?

NIGERIANS have taken to watching an old film—one of their own—since the presidential election last month. It shows intrigue and thievery at the court of an ancient king in the Niger Delta. Decked out in glittering costumes on an improvised sound stage, the wicked court at last collapses under the weight of its own sins.

When it was released in 1999, “Saworoide” was seen as a commentary on the regime of Sani Abacha, who ruled (or, as some prefer, “dismembered”) Nigeria between 1993 and 1998. Once again, Nigerians are hoping to see the back of their ruling elite. Goodluck Jonathan, the president, wafts along on a wave of personal goodwill and is mostly seen as benign. It is the men and women around him whom voters blame for Nigeria’s woes.

Click here to read the full report

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A man and a morass

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LEADERS: Hope in Nigeria

Hail the useful chief

To thrive, Nigerians need strong medicine. They may at last be about to get itMay 26th 2011

MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA: Africa's elephants

To cosset or to cull?

Elephants are poached in central and east Africa but proliferate in the southMay 19th 2011

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...isn't destiny, one hopes

Good and bad news from the UN’s population projectionsMay 12th 2011

Social notworking in different countries

Social notworking
Where do workers get the most days off?
Different countries have very different standards. Which is the most (and least) slothful?

Click here for more.

LG THRILL 4G Arriving in AT&T Stores this Summer

First Dual-Core, Dual-Channel, Dual Memory Superphone Primed to View, Create and Share 3D Content Including YouTube 3D

DALLAS AND NEW YORK, June 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — The ideal handset for on-the-move entertainment enthusiasts, LG THRILL™ 4G is the ultimate on-the-go superphone. Gamers will love it for the 3D games. Amateur cameramen will love the ability to create and share in 3D video. And, any customer looking for one of the most powerful and capable smartphones on the market will be delighted by the LG THRILL 4G.



Key Facts

* LG THRILL 4G to arrive in AT&T company-owned stores and online this summer with a leading suite of 3D content preloaded on the dual-core, dual-channel, dual memory Android 2.2 superphone.
* Glasses-free, 4.3-inch, 3D display provides access to a portfolio of 3D content including preloaded 3D games, the Gameloft™ 3D Store, preloaded YouTube 3D, access to 3D movies from mSpot® and more.
* Rear-facing dual five-megapixel stereoscopic cameras give users the ability to create and share everyday life experiences in 3D, as well as post to YouTube 3D.

3D Content

LG THRILL 4G can revolutionize customer’s multimedia experience with the ability to view, create and share in 3D on a glasses-free 3D display. LG THRILL 4G is the only smartphone in the U.S. to feature a 1 GHz dual-core, dual-channel, dual memory for the ultimate in performance when playing 3D games, shooting 3D video, or uploading 3D content.

Featuring rear-facing dual five-megapixel stereoscopic 3D cameras, LG THRILL 4G gives users the ability to shoot 720p video in 3D and capture crystal clear stills. LG THRILL 4G also enables owners to capture high-quality 3D content with 3D video stabilization technology that automatically corrects for shake during recording. LG THRILL 4G also can easily convert 2D content, including images and videos, into 3D with the push of a button.

Being a YouTube 3D lead phone, LG THRILL 4G comes preloaded with YouTube 3D, allowing users to easily share their 3D creations. Additionally, LG THRILL 4G comes preloaded with 3D games, including Let's Golf 2, Asphalt 6 and NOVA. Users also can access the Gameloft™ 3D Store and 3D movies from mSpot®.
LG THRILL 4G Specifications and Features

LG THRILL 4G runs the Android 2.2 platform and provides glasses-free viewing on a 4.3-inch WVGA display, which offers bright and flicker-free images in HD – 1080p in 2D and up to 720p in 3D. Ideal for sharing 3D or 2D content with a monitor, LG THRILL 4G features an HDMI connection with included micro cable and is DLNA capable for highest resolution playback of user-generated content. LG THRILL 4G also features AT&T Mobile Hotspot for connecting Wi-Fi enabled devices to the AT&T mobile broadband network.

LG THRILL 4G also has a front-facing camera and is the first from AT&T to come preloaded with the Qik video calling service for use over Wi-Fi.
3D Entertainment Summit

Today at the 2011 3D Entertainment Summit, part of CE Week in New York, Vice President of Marketing for LG Mobile Phones, Tim O’Brien, delivered remarks on technology’s important role in the evolution of entertainment. Illustrating how 3D enabled mobile devices will be the next step in the natural evolution of entertainment, O’Brien declared that user-generated content will fuel the overall 3D experience. O’Brien added that with the launch of LG THRILL 4G all consumers will have access to this next-generation technology, breaking former accessibility, technology and content barriers. Media on site were able to demo LG THRILL 4G’s 3D content and shoot and share capabilities. LG THRILL 4G will also be on display for media at the Digital Experience event at the Metropolitan Pavilion the evening of June 22.
AT&T Developer Program Webcast on 3D Content

As part of its mission to help developers create and market compelling applications, AT&T’s Developer Program is conducting a free webcast on Thursday, June 23 where the program will provide an overview of building 3D content for the LG THRILL 4G. AT&T’s Developer Program has ranked highest of all carrier developer programs for the past five years by Evans Data. Membership is free to all at http://developer.att.com.
Quotes

“While consumer demand for 3D is relatively nascent, LG THRILL 4G both does 3D right and is also a superlative smartphone,” said Jeff Bradley, senior vice president, Devices, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “With a 3D camera on a smartphone, user-generated content has the power to shape the evolution of 3D behavior. This is an amazing dual-core superphone.”

“LG is pleased to offer a new standard by which mobile users can interact with their content that is more engaging and life-like than ever before,” said Tim O’Brien, vice president of marketing for LG Mobile Phones. “This device adds a new dimension to smartphone performance and gives LG THRILL 4G an edge over other devices in the emerging superphone category.”

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

For health and safety information for 3D content viewing please visit www.att.com/3Dinfo.

4G speeds delivered by HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul. Available in limited areas. Availability increasing with ongoing backhaul deployment. Requires 4G device. Learn more at att.com/network. Limited-time offer. Coverage not available in all areas. Subscriber must live and have a mailing address within AT&T’s owned wireless network coverage area. Two year service commitment, voice and smartphone data plan required. Up to $36 activation fee applies. Other conditions and restrictions apply. Early Termination Fee: None if cancelled in the first 30 days, but up to $35 restocking fee may apply to returns; thereafter up to $325. Some agents impose additional fees. Smartphone Data Plan Requirement: Smartphones require a DataPlus (200MB) or DataPro (2GB) plan. If you exceed your initial data allowance, you will automatically be charged an additional $10 for each additional 1GB provided on DataPro or an additional $15 for each additional 200MB provided on DataPlus. For more information see att.com/dataplans. Sales tax calculated based on price of unactivated equipment. Mobile Hotspot requires a DataPro 4GB plan. Devices connected to your Mobile Hotspot use data from your DataPro 4GB plan. Overage charges of $10 per GB provided apply if the included monthly data allowance is exceeded. The number of devices you can connect depends on your device. Performance may vary depending on the number of devices connected and other factors. If you do not use a password, others will be able to use your Mobile Hotspot connection.
About LG Electronics, Inc.

LG Electronics, Inc. (KSE: 066570.KS) is a global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, mobile communications and home appliances, employing more than 93,000 people working in over 120 operations around the world. With 2010 global sales of 55.8 trillion Korean won (USD 48.2 billion), LG comprises four business units – Home Entertainment, Mobile Communications, Home Appliance, and Air Conditioning & Energy Solutions. LG is one of the world’s leading producers of flat panel TVs, mobile devices, air conditioners, washing machines, and refrigerators. LG has signed a long-term agreement to become both a Global Partner and a Technology Partner of Formula 1™. As part of this top-level association, LG acquires exclusive designations and marketing rights as the official consumer electronics, mobile phone and data processor of this global sporting event. For more information, please visit www.lg.com.
About LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company

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Chike Ibekwe heads the Jury at 15th Ecrans Noirs Film Festival

Chike Ibekwe

International award winning Nigerian filmmaker Chike Ibekwe is the President of the Jury at the 15th Ecrans Noirs Film Festival from June 18-25, 2011, in Yaoundé, Cameroun.

Ibekwe's first feature “Eternal” was co-winner of the Golden Screen best film award with “An Unusual Woman” by Burkinabe director Abdoulaye Dao at the 2010 edition of the festival.

The Festival Director Cameroon film maker Bassek Ba Kobhio said Ecrans Noirs was started as a meeting place for African filmmakers with the public and each other and to create a significant awareness for the cinema in Central Africa.

The film festival has become a competitive event since three years ago, where all types and genres of African films are shown, along with films about Africa or African communities made by filmmakers outside Africa.