Felix Global Blog

UEFA Champions League

2010-09-20T04:50:00.000-07:00

The UEFA Champions League (usually referred to as simply the Champions League or historically as the European Cup) is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. The final of the competition is – along with the NFL's Super Bowl – the most watched annual sporting event worldwide, drawing just over 100 million television viewers.[1]

Prior to 1992 the tournament was officially called the European Champion Clubs' Cup but was usually referred to as simply the European Cup or European Champions' Cup. The competition was initially a straight knockout competition open only to the champion club of each country. During the 1990s the tournament began to be expanded, incorporating a round-robin group phase and more teams. Europe's strongest national leagues now provide up to four teams each for the competition. The UEFA Champions League should not be confused with the UEFA Europa League, formerly known as the UEFA Cup.

The tournament consists of several stages. In the present format it begins in mid-July with three knockout qualifying rounds and a play-off round. The 10 surviving teams join 22 seeded teams in the group stage, in which there are eight groups consisting of four teams each. The eight group winners and eight runners-up enter the final knockout phase, which ends with the final match in May. Since the tournament changed name and structure in 1992, no club has managed consecutive wins. The winner of the UEFA Champions League qualifies for the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.

The title has been won by 21 different clubs, 12 of which have won the title more than once. The all-time record-holders are Real Madrid, who have won the competition nine times, including the first five seasons it was contested. Spain's La Liga and Italy's Serie A are marginally the most successful leagues, having amassed 12 wins, between two and three clubs respectively. The English league has produced 11 winners from four clubs. English teams were controversially banned from the competition for five years following the events at Heysel in 1985.[2] Internazionale are the current champions, having beaten Bayern Munich 2–0 in the 2010 final.

Ex-millitant storm Abuja

2010-07-19T04:25:00.000-07:00

ABUJA— OVER 1, 000 ex-militants from the Niger Delta, particularly Bayelsa and Delta states who had converged in 62 eighteen-seater buses stormed the Federal Capital Territory in the early hours of yesterday to protest alleged mismanagement of the Federal Government amnesty programme for ex-militants.

More than 1000 ex-militants from the Niger Delta protesting the Federal Government's handling of the post-amnesty programme in Abuja, yesterday.

The ex-militants who had reached Gwagwalada, some 100 kilometres from Abuja metropolis before they were stopped by the Police, said they were proceeding to the Abuja metropolis to protest the shabby implementation of the programme by the Special Adviser to the President on Amnesty, Mr. Timi Alaibe.

But in a swift reaction, Alaibe, speaking through his Special Assistant, Mr. Henry Ugbolue, said most of the persons in this category, were those who were not originally captured as ex-militants that submitted their arms and ammunition because they were skeptical about the Federal Government intentions.

Vanguard, however, gathered that before the interception of the ex-militants, about two bus-loads had sneaked into the FCT metropolis, met with the Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadome, who told them to select a few representatives to present their grouse to government for resolution.

Leader of the team that met the Chief of Staff, Beke Epere, South-South Youth leader told Vanguard that Oghiadome impressed it upon them to ensure that they did not go .

Earlier, an ex-militant leader, General Aso Tambo who described himself as chairman of the freedom fighters from Niger Delta said: “We came to see Mr. President to discuss the second phase of implementation of the amnesty programme.

Timi Alaibe has been playing with us. When we met with him, he asked us to come back in three weeks. We went to our camps and merged as Alaibe wanted.

We waited for all his promises and nothing happened. We are not criminals but freedom fighters.

“From 1999 to date, the Federal Government created NDDC with the hope that the problem in the Niger Delta will be curtailed. Niger Delta ministry was created and till today, nothing is happening. Now the amnesty has been taken over by big men. That is why we are here to see the President.”

Deputy Inspector General of Police in Charge of Operations, Israel Ajao and the AIG Zone 7, Ivy Okoronkwo who led detachments of Policemen to Gwagwalada, commended the ex-militants for their orderliness, noting that the police were there to ensure law and order.

Ajao further told the ex-militants that with the Federal Government’s promise to look into their complaints, they should politely return to their states, adding that the Police would provide escorts for them up to the outskirts of the FCT.

However, Alaibe who reacted to the allegations of the ex-militants said: “In view of the protest in Abuja today by persons said to be Niger Delta ex-militants who were excluded from the Presidential Amnesty programme, it has become expedient to clarify as follows.

That in the bid to stem the ugly tide of militancy and general insecurity in the Niger Delta, late President Yar’Adua proclaimed, on 25 June, 2009, an unconditional amnesty for militants in the Niger Delta who agreed to lay down their arms and assemble at screening centre’s within 60 days for documentation.

This offer of amnesty was unequivocally predicated on the willingness and readiness of the militants to give up all illegal arms in their possession, completely renounce militancy in all ramifications, and depose an undertaking to this effect.

“As most Nigerians would recall, thousands of repentant militants operating in the Niger Delta enthusiastically accepted this offer of amnesty and turned in their arms and got documented on or before the October 4th 2009 earmarked deadline.

The Presidential Amnesty Committee then under the former Defence Minister, Maj Gen. Godwin Abbe (rtd), registered and properly documented 20, 192 repentant Niger Delta militants. It was on the basis of this number, that the Federal Government designed and budgeted for the on-going demobilization, rehabilitation and re-integration component of the amnesty programme.

“Indeed it gives me immense pleasure to aver that the first batch of 2, 000 repentant militants has successfully gone through non-violence transformation training in Obubra camp in Cross River State, and by the weekend, a battery of experts would have taken them through other programmes that are designed to prepare them for formal integration into the civil society”.

“Let it, however, be placed on record that the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Mr. Timi Alaibe, is aware that a number of militant groups who did not disarm during the amnesty period came forward and indicated interest to submit their weapons to security agencies and be included in the post amnesty programme.

“Most of them cited reason of skepticism on the sincerity of the Federal Government to follow through the amnesty programme.

However, having seen the documented ex-militants collecting steady monthly allowances and now being admitted into camp for transformational training and rehabilitation, they decided to come forward and submit their weapons.

To this effect, many of them turned in their arms to the JTF between December 31, 2009 and April 21, 2010. This agitation and the likely consequences were promptly brought to the attention of all critical stakeholders in the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

“The agitators are, however, asked to remain calm and await the outcome of the representation to the President on their behalf by the special adviser. And let me emphasize that the protest in Abuja today (yesterday) is absolutely nothing to do with the on-going transformational programme for the Niger Delta ex-militants in Obubra, Cross River State.”

cricket saviour south Africal stadium

2010-07-19T03:47:00.000-07:00

Durban - Cricket could emerge as an unlikely saviour of World Cup soccer stadiums with the decision by Cricket South Africa (CSA) to stage a Twenty20 international at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

South Africa underwent a massive building programme in an effort to make the country ready to host the month-long soccer extravaganza with the construction of five new stadiums while a further five underwent varying degrees of renovation.

There are concerns that following the tournament that concluded with Spain lifting the trophy for the first time on Sunday, the stadiums would become obsolete.

However, the decision to host a Twenty20 match between South Africa and India at the Durban venue next January could open the way for other soccer stadiums to be utilised in a similar capacity.

"The game between South Africa and India is important for us to be able to take cricket to everyone," CSA chief executive Gerald Majola said.

"We would like to utilise some of the soccer stadiums that were used during the World Cup to help us in that effort," he said.

Majola added that South Africa could benefit by the use of more stadiums to extend the domestic cricket season with an eye on setting up its own version of the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 tournament.

"We can't set up our own IPL because currently there is no window," he explained.

"We would like to see if it is possible to play at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg and a few other soccer grounds because we would be able to extend our season into August but it is important to see what the viability of the grounds are."

Currently, the Durban stadium falls short of meeting the International Cricket Council's (ICC) minimum playing area requirement but Majola said that the addition of an athletics track would help to increase the space available.

Majola added that if the ground could reach ICC playing regulations, the CSA would look into gaining full Test status for the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

In a clear indication that more cricket could be played at the ground, the CSA has decided to build a permanent pitch at the ground as opposed to using a drop-in one for January's match.

"Not all grounds can be used for Tests but for Twenty20 internationals, which attract huge grounds, it would certainly be an option," Majola said.

Mike Sutcliffe, Durban's municipal manager, said that the staging of the international was part of the city's long-term plan to make the stadium sustainable.

"When it became clear that we would have to build a new stadium we developed a strategy called '2010 and beyond'," Sutcliffe said.

"Our first objective was to develop an iconic stadium that would make for a great soccer ground, nut we also had to break into other markets and Twenty20 cricket is a perfect sport for us," he explained.

Durban already has a cricket test venue, the 25,000 capacity Kingsmead cricket ground, but it is dwarfed by the 62,760-seat Moses Mabhida Stadium.

building programme in an effort to make the country ready to host the month-long soccer extravaganza with the construction of five new stadiums while a further five underwent varying degrees of renovation.

There are concerns that following the tournament that concluded with Spain lifting the trophy for the first time on Sunday, the stadiums would become obsolete.

However, the decision to host a Twenty20 match between South Africa and India at the Durban venue next January could open the way for other soccer stadiums to be utilised in a similar capacity.

"The game between South Africa and India is important for us to be able to take cricket to everyone," CSA chief executive Gerald Majola said.

"We would like to utilise some of the soccer stadiums that were used during the World Cup to help us in that effort," he said.

Majola added that South Africa could benefit by the use of more stadiums to extend the domestic cricket season with an eye on setting up its own version of the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 tournament.

"We can't set up our own IPL because currently there is no window," he explained.

"We would like to see if it is possible to play at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg and a few other soccer grounds because we would be able to extend our season into August but it is important to see what the viability of the grounds are."

Currently, the Durban stadium falls short of meeting the International Cricket Council's (ICC) minimum playing area requirement but Majola said that the addition of an athletics track would help to increase the space available.

Majola added that if the ground could reach ICC playing regulations, the CSA would look into gaining full Test status for the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

In a clear indication that more cricket could be played at the ground, the CSA has decided to build a permanent pitch at the ground as opposed to using a drop-in one for January's match.

"Not all grounds can be used for Tests but for Twenty20 internationals, which attract huge grounds, it would certainly be an option," Majola said.

Mike Sutcliffe, Durban's municipal manager, said that the staging of the international was part of the city's long-term plan to make the stadium sustainable.

"When it became clear that we would have to build a new stadium we developed a strategy called '2010 and beyond'," Sutcliffe said.

"Our first objective was to develop an iconic stadium that would make for a great soccer ground, nut we also had to break into other markets and Twenty20 cricket is a perfect sport for us," he explained.

Durban already has a cricket test venue, the 25,000 capacity Kingsmead cricket ground, but it is dwarfed by the 62,760-seat Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Durban - Cricket could emerge as an unlikely saviour of World Cup soccer stadiums with the decision by Cricket South Africa (CSA) to stage a Twenty20 international at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

South Africa underwent a massive building programme in an effort to make the country ready to host the month-long soccer extravaganza with the construction of five new stadiums while a further five underwent varying degrees of renovation.

There are concerns that following the tournament that concluded with Spain lifting the trophy for the first time on Sunday, the stadiums would become obsolete.

However, the decision to host a Twenty20 match between South Africa and India at the Durban venue next January could open the way for other soccer stadiums to be utilised in a similar capacity.

"The game between South Africa and India is important for us to be able to take cricket to everyone," CSA chief executive Gerald Majola said.

"We would like to utilise some of the soccer stadiums that were used during the World Cup to help us in that effort," he said.

Majola added that South Africa could benefit by the use of more stadiums to extend the domestic cricket season with an eye on setting up its own version of the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 tournament.

"We can't set up our own IPL because currently there is no window," he explained.

"We would like to see if it is possible to play at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg and a few other soccer grounds because we would be able to extend our season into August but it is important to see what the viability of the grounds are."

Currently, the Durban stadium falls short of meeting the International Cricket Council's (ICC) minimum playing area requirement but Majola said that the addition of an athletics track would help to increase the space available.

Majola added that if the ground could reach ICC playing regulations, the CSA would look into gaining full Test status for the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

In a clear indication that more cricket could be played at the ground, the CSA has decided to build a permanent pitch at the ground as opposed to using a drop-in one for January's match.

"Not all grounds can be used for Tests but for Twenty20 internationals, which attract huge grounds, it would certainly be an option," Majola said.

Mike Sutcliffe, Durban's municipal manager, said that the staging of the international was part of the city's long-term plan to make the stadium sustainable.

"When it became clear that we would have to build a new stadium we developed a strategy called '2010 and beyond'," Sutcliffe said.

"Our first objective was to develop an iconic stadium that would make for a great soccer ground, nut we also had to break into other markets and Twenty20 cricket is a perfect sport for us," he explained.

Durban already has a cricket test venue, the 25,000 capacity Kingsmead cricket ground, but it is dwarfed by the 62,760-seat Moses Mabhida Stadium.

South Africal to bid for 2020 olympic

2010-07-19T03:32:00.000-07:00

South Africa is set to bid for the 2020 Olympic Games after successfully hosting the football World Cup, governing Olympic body chief Tubby Reddy said on Tuesday.

"We have decided that the way forward would be to engage government and key stakeholders on the way forward, but our intention is to provide a world-class city capable of hosting Africa's first Olympic Games in 2020," Reddy, South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) CEO, said.

The SASCOC said it would "formally oversee a bid for the 2020 Games" and encouraged potential host cities to "state their intention of being involved in the process."

Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg are considered possible bid cities.

The move has already received the nod from International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge who said he would be glad if a South African city made a host bid.

The bidding process for the 2020 Olympic Games is set to open next year, with the deadline for the submission of applications to the IOC falling in 2013.

Argentina legalises gay marriage

2010-07-19T03:21:00.000-07:00

Argentina legalised same-sex marriage today, becoming the first country in Latin America to declare that gay and lesbian couples are entitled to all the legal rights, responsibilities and protections that marriage brings to heterosexuals.

Following a marathon debate that ended after 4am, 33 senators voted in favour, 27 against and three abstained. Since Argentina's lower house has already approved the bill and President Cristina Fernández is a strong supporter, it will become law as soon as it is published in the official bulletin, which should happen within days.

The law is expected to bring a wave of marriages in the gay-friendly capital, Buenos Aires, though only citizens and residents can wed in the country.

A campaign against the bill by the Roman Catholic church and evangelical groups had drawn 60,000 people to march on congress, with parents in churches and schools urged to fight the plans.

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio led the campaign, saying "children need to have the right to be raised and educated by a father and a mother".

Nine gay couples had married in Argentina after convincing judges that the constitutional mandate of equality supported their rights, although the validity of the ceremonies was challenged by other judges. Congressional passage now removes that doubt.

As the debate stretched on, large crowds kept rival vigils outside the congress building. When the vote came, there were cheers and hugs among supporters, with police keeping them apartfrom opponents who prayed and held rosaries.

"Marriage between a man and a woman has existed for centuries, and is essential for the perpetuation of the species," said Senator Juan Pérez Alsina, who is a usually loyal supporter of the president but who delivered a passionate speech against gay marriage.

But Senator Norma Morandini compared the discrimination gay people faced to the oppression under Argentina's dictators. "What defines us is our humanity, and what runs against humanity is intolerance," she said.

Gay rights advocates said Argentina's step adds momentum to similar efforts around the world. "Today's historic vote shows how far Catholic Argentina has come, from dictatorship to true democratic values, and how far the freedom to marry movement has come, as 12 countries on four continents now embrace marriage equality," said Evan Wolfson, of the US Freedom to Marry lobby.

Gay activists in neighbouring Chile hope Argentina's milestone will improve chances for a gay marriage law now in committee in their own congress.

"Argentina's political class has provided a lesson to the rest of Latin America," said Rolando Jimenez in Santiago. "We hope our own countries and political parties will learn that the human rights of sexual minorities are undeniable."

Activists in Paraguay plan to propose a similar law to the senate in October, said Martin Viveros of the group Somosgay. And in Uruguay, gay people unsatisfied with the partial rights that come through civil unions are preparing legislation that would replace references to "man and woman" with "spouse" throughout the civil code.
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RAIN IN CHINA

2010-07-12T04:23:00.000-07:00

China's Central Meteorological Station warned Sunday that rainstorms would again batter areas inundated by floods in central and east China in the coming days.

From Monday until Wednesday, the observatory forecast some regions in provinces including Guizhou, Hunan, Hubei and Anhui will see heavy rain storms

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SET TO REVIEW PEACE KEEPING POLICIES

2010-07-12T04:02:00.000-07:00

The Federal Government is set to review its participation strategy in global peace support operation, it was disclosed yesterday.

The country also has no plan to deploy troops in Somalia as earlier planned.

Currently, Nigeria is the fourth largest contributor to the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions around the world.

Minister of Defence, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, told defence correspondents that a national conference on the review of the country’s strategy in the deployment of troops would be convened next month.

According to him, the forum would feature experts from the defence and economic sectors as well as civil society, "because the need has arisen for Nigeria to review why it has to send its troops on these missions."

He said: "The need for an all-encompassing review was necessitated because the main philosophy of this peacemaking involves a wider framework and we need our own policy that will underline what we do because we are known all over the world.

"Nigeria is bent on supporting and training backward countries on peace making and democratic structure in all sectors of their economies and providing them infrastructure because this will make them partner Nigerians and provide facilities for them."

The minister decried past situations whereby civil society organisations and professionals in Nigeria were not involved in post peacekeeping period in the area of Nigerian troop’s deployment.

He cited the cases of Nigeria’s involvement in Liberia and Sierra Leone, saying having assisted in keeping peace, they have to stay back to maintain peace, explore other areas and maximise opportunities in those countries.

"Nigeria’s NGO’s and entrepreneurship body should be actively involved in order to play a leadership role and avoid other countries taking the lead role

"There is need for our professionals and others to key in to the PSO and develop our own philosophy as we continue to play active roles in global peacekeeping initiatives," he said.

Kayode, who said the government is set to leverage on the returns accruing from its participation in the global peace initiatives through the procurement of equipment for the use of its contingents paid for by the UN, also revealed that plans would commence on the Nigerian Military Industrial Complex.

"Though the country does not have enough reserve from the procurement of equipment for its troops as paid for by the UN to plough back into barrack rehabilitation, the little we have, I would rather prefer we use the acquisition of new platforms and equipment for our armed forces instead of being spent on barracks’ rehabilitation," he stated.

The minister spoke on plans to establish a military industrial complex that will house between 300 and 400 military industries. "We are looking at a situation whereby the equipment of our troops on PSO will be locally manufactured."

The Federal Government is set to review its participation strategy in global peace support operation, it was disclosed yesterday.

The country also has no plan to deploy troops in Somalia as earlier planned.

Currently, Nigeria is the fourth largest contributor to the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions around the world.

Minister of Defence, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, told defence correspondents that a national conference on the review of the country’s strategy in the deployment of troops would be convened next month.

According to him, the forum would feature experts from the defence and economic sectors as well as civil society, "because the need has arisen for Nigeria to review why it has to send its troops on these missions."

He said: "The need for an all-encompassing review was necessitated because the main philosophy of this peacemaking involves a wider framework and we need our own policy that will underline what we do because we are known all over the world.

"Nigeria is bent on supporting and training backward countries on peace making and democratic structure in all sectors of their economies and providing them infrastructure because this will make them partner Nigerians and provide facilities for them."

The minister decried past situations whereby civil society organisations and professionals in Nigeria were not involved in post peacekeeping period in the area of Nigerian troop’s deployment.

He cited the cases of Nigeria’s involvement in Liberia and Sierra Leone, saying having assisted in keeping peace, they have to stay back to maintain peace, explore other areas and maximise opportunities in those countries.

"Nigeria’s NGO’s and entrepreneurship body should be actively involved in order to play a leadership role and avoid other countries taking the lead role

"There is need for our professionals and others to key in to the PSO and develop our own philosophy as we continue to play active roles in global peacekeeping initiatives," he said.

Kayode, who said the government is set to leverage on the returns accruing from its participation in the global peace initiatives through the procurement of equipment for the use of its contingents paid for by the UN, also revealed that plans would commence on the Nigerian Military Industrial Complex.

"Though the country does not have enough reserve from the procurement of equipment for its troops as paid for by the UN to plough back into barrack rehabilitation, the little we have, I would rather prefer we use the acquisition of new platforms and equipment for our armed forces instead of being spent on barracks’ rehabilitation," he stated.

The minister spoke on plans to establish a military industrial complex that will house between 300 and 400 military industries. "We are looking at a situation whereby the equipment of our troops on PSO will be locally manufactured."

The Federal Government is set to review its participation strategy in global peace support operation, it was disclosed yesterday.

The country also has no plan to deploy troops in Somalia as earlier planned.

Currently, Nigeria is the fourth largest contributor to the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions around the world.

Minister of Defence, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, told defence correspondents that a national conference on the review of the country’s strategy in the deployment of troops would be convened next month.

According to him, the forum would feature experts from the defence and economic sectors as well as civil society, "because the need has arisen for Nigeria to review why it has to send its troops on these missions."

He said: "The need for an all-encompassing review was necessitated because the main philosophy of this peacemaking involves a wider framework and we need our own policy that will underline what we do because we are known all over the world.

"Nigeria is bent on supporting and training backward countries on peace making and democratic structure in all sectors of their economies and providing them infrastructure because this will make them partner Nigerians and provide facilities for them."

The minister decried past situations whereby civil society organisations and professionals in Nigeria were not involved in post peacekeeping period in the area of Nigerian troop’s deployment.

He cited the cases of Nigeria’s involvement in Liberia and Sierra Leone, saying having assisted in keeping peace, they have to stay back to maintain peace, explore other areas and maximise opportunities in those countries.

"Nigeria’s NGO’s and entrepreneurship body should be actively involved in order to play a leadership role and avoid other countries taking the lead role

"There is need for our professionals and others to key in to the PSO and develop our own philosophy as we continue to play active roles in global peacekeeping initiatives," he said.

Kayode, who said the government is set to leverage on the returns accruing from its participation in the global peace initiatives through the procurement of equipment for the use of its contingents paid for by the UN, also revealed that plans would commence on the Nigerian Military Industrial Complex.

"Though the country does not have enough reserve from the procurement of equipment for its troops as paid for by the UN to plough back into barrack rehabilitation, the little we have, I would rather prefer we use the acquisition of new platforms and equipment for our armed forces instead of being spent on barracks’ rehabilitation," he stated.

The minister spoke on plans to establish a military industrial complex that will house between 300 and 400 military industries. "We are looking at a situation whereby the equipment of our troops on PSO will be locally manufactured."

SPAIN NOW WORLD CHAMPION

2010-07-12T03:56:00.000-07:00

Andres Iniesta yesterday put his name in the record books as he fired the European Champions, Spain, to her first World Cup title with a beautiful goal in the 117th minute of a pulsating final match at the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg.

Termed perennial underachievers, the Spanish team finally broke the jinx that has seen it under form at the big stage. Their best outing at the World Cup before now was a semi-final finish at the 1950 edition of the tournament hosted by Brazil.

Starting their World Cup campaign on a losing note to Switzerland, Spain made history as the first team to lose an opening match and still go on to win the World Cup trophy.

The European champions looked the more assured early on in the clash as a nervous-looking Dutch side ceded territory to their sleek opponents.

Netherlands goalkeeper, Maarten Stekelenburg, was forced into a diving save after five minutes when Sergio Ramos headed a Xavi cross goalwards, while Spain forward, David Villa, crashed a volley into the side netting with the goal looming.

However, a series of free kicks and bookings, including two strong challenges by Dutch midfielders Nigel de Jong and Mark van Bommel, shook Spain out of their rhythm.
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Andres Iniesta yesterday put his name in the record books as he fired the European Champions, Spain, to her first World Cup title with a beautiful goal in the 117th minute of a pulsating final match at the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg.

Termed perennial underachievers, the Spanish team finally broke the jinx that has seen it under form at the big stage. Their best outing at the World Cup before now was a semi-final finish at the 1950 edition of the tournament hosted by Brazil.

Starting their World Cup campaign on a losing note to Switzerland, Spain made history as the first team to lose an opening match and still go on to win the World Cup trophy.

The European champions looked the more assured early on in the clash as a nervous-looking Dutch side ceded territory to their sleek opponents.

Netherlands goalkeeper, Maarten Stekelenburg, was forced into a diving save after five minutes when Sergio Ramos headed a Xavi cross goalwards, while Spain forward, David Villa, crashed a volley into the side netting with the goal looming.

However, a series of free kicks and bookings, including two strong challenges by Dutch midfielders Nigel de Jong and Mark van Bommel, shook Spain out of their rhythm.
print email

Andres Iniesta yesterday put his name in the record books as he fired the European Champions, Spain, to her first World Cup title with a beautiful goal in the 117th minute of a pulsating final match at the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg.

Termed perennial underachievers, the Spanish team finally broke the jinx that has seen it under form at the big stage. Their best outing at the World Cup before now was a semi-final finish at the 1950 edition of the tournament hosted by Brazil.

Starting their World Cup campaign on a losing note to Switzerland, Spain made history as the first team to lose an opening match and still go on to win the World Cup trophy.

The European champions looked the more assured early on in the clash as a nervous-looking Dutch side ceded territory to their sleek opponents.

Netherlands goalkeeper, Maarten Stekelenburg, was forced into a diving save after five minutes when Sergio Ramos headed a Xavi cross goalwards, while Spain forward, David Villa, crashed a volley into the side netting with the goal looming.

However, a series of free kicks and bookings, including two strong challenges by Dutch midfielders Nigel de Jong and Mark van Bommel, shook Spain out of their rhythm.
print email

Andres Iniesta yesterday put his name in the record books as he fired the European Champions, Spain, to her first World Cup title with a beautiful goal in the 117th minute of a pulsating final match at the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg.

Termed perennial underachievers, the Spanish team finally broke the jinx that has seen it under form at the big stage. Their best outing at the World Cup before now was a semi-final finish at the 1950 edition of the tournament hosted by Brazil.

Starting their World Cup campaign on a losing note to Switzerland, Spain made history as the first team to lose an opening match and still go on to win the World Cup trophy.

The European champions looked the more assured early on in the clash as a nervous-looking Dutch side ceded territory to their sleek opponents.

Netherlands goalkeeper, Maarten Stekelenburg, was forced into a diving save after five minutes when Sergio Ramos headed a Xavi cross goalwards, while Spain forward, David Villa, crashed a volley into the side netting with the goal looming.

However, a series of free kicks and bookings, including two strong challenges by Dutch midfielders Nigel de Jong and Mark van Bommel, shook Spain out of their rhythm.
print email

Andres Iniesta yesterday put his name in the record books as he fired the European Champions, Spain, to her first World Cup title with a beautiful goal in the 117th minute of a pulsating final match at the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg.

Termed perennial underachievers, the Spanish team finally broke the jinx that has seen it under form at the big stage. Their best outing at the World Cup before now was a semi-final finish at the 1950 edition of the tournament hosted by Brazil.

Starting their World Cup campaign on a losing note to Switzerland, Spain made history as the first team to lose an opening match and still go on to win the World Cup trophy.

The European champions looked the more assured early on in the clash as a nervous-looking Dutch side ceded territory to their sleek opponents.

Netherlands goalkeeper, Maarten Stekelenburg, was forced into a diving save after five minutes when Sergio Ramos headed a Xavi cross goalwards, while Spain forward, David Villa, crashed a volley into the side netting with the goal looming.

However, a series of free kicks and bookings, including two strong challenges by Dutch midfielders Nigel de Jong and Mark van Bommel, shook Spain out of their rhythm.

senate comfirm Atahiru Jeka as i.n.e.c chairman

2010-06-29T04:44:00.000-07:00

The Senate has confirmed that it had received President Goodluck Jonathan’s letter on the nomination of Prof. Attahiru Jega as the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The names of 10 new commissioners, who will also be screened by the Senate.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information and Media, Senator Ayogu Eze, who disclosed this to our correspondent on the telephone, said he believed that the President’s letter was already in the Senate.

According to him, the Senate President, David Mark, would read the letter at plenary on Tuesday and then a decision would be taken on how the process of the screening would go.

He, however, could not confirm whether the Senate would confirm Jega and his commissioners on Tuesday. But he noted that a decision would be taken on Tuesday.

He said, “I know that we are going to read the letter on Tuesday and then decide whether to suspend our rules and screen the nominees; or pick another date when they will be screened. It is most likely that a date will be picked after the letter is read.

“The Senate will also decide whether the nominees will be screened in plenary or by the relevant committee.

“What I can assure you is that the screening will be done in the open under the coverage of live cameras.”

He also said that the Senate would resume activities focusing on the treatment of the 2010 supplementary bill submitted by the President.

He also said that the Senate would consider the letter and observations sent to the National Assembly by the President on the 2010 Appropriation Act.

Eze expressed the hope that the houses of assembly of the 36 states would expeditiously attend to the amended portions of the constitution so as to assist the National Assembly to conclude its work on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.

EFCC RAIDS HOUSE OF REPS AGAIN

2010-06-29T04:23:00.000-07:00

For the second time in less than 48 hours, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday raided some offices in the House of Representatives in search of more documents relating to the alleged misuse of N9bn by the leadership of the House.

The raid coincided with a disclosure by a top government source that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other- Related Offences Commission had also set up a special unit to probe the allegation.

A faction in the House, the Progressive- Minded Legislators and a coalition of civil society groups, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project had separately sent petitions to the ICPC seeking a probe of how the money voted for capital projects for the House was disbursed.

The Chairman of the EFCC, Mrs. Farida Waziri had upon receipt of a copy of the petition on Monday told the PML members led by Mr. Dino Melaye that a special team had already started looking into the matter.

But as members of the House engaged in free-for-all during their Tuesday plenary, some EFCC operatives raided the office of the Clerk of the House and took away some documents.

A source at the National Assembly told our correspondent that “five EFCC operatives came again to the House on today (Thursday) and ransacked some offices for documents on some purchases made by the House.”

When contacted, the EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Babafemi, said he was not aware that the commission’s operatives visited the National Assembly, on Thursday.

“It is an ongoing investigation. But, I’m not aware that our men visited the place on Thursday,” he said.

Another source , who is close to the EFCC and ICPC, claimed that the investigations might end in the next two weeks.

He hinted that all those that played a role in the alleged misuse of the N9bn, including the Speaker of the House, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, would be summoned by the ICPC anytime from Friday (today).

The source, who declined to be named, also said that it was not unlikely that Bankole might be forced to resign even before the conclusion of the probes by the two anti-graft agencies.

He added that Melaye and the other PML members might also be invited to substantiate their allegations against the House leadership.

According to him , it is not also unlikely that the anti-graft bodies may start to summon suspects in the matter on Friday (today).

He said, “This (probe) is a special case. The swiftness of the EFCC to solve the riddle of N9bn capital vote mismanagement is enough to tell the people that there will be no sacred cow in the anti-graft crusade.

“I can assure you that the investigation will be concluded in another two weeks. From what we have heard so far, the matter might consume the leadership of the House.

“They have been claiming that the documents being circulated by the aggrieved lawmakers are fake, but the cheques issued for the payment of the items in question have revealed otherwise.

“It is a question of time, the Speaker might be forced to resign on the weight of the allegations. At least, he would be asked to step aside in order not to tamper with the investigations. That may be his final exit as the number-four person in the country.”

The rancorous session in the House on Tuesday led to the indefinite suspension of Melaye and 10 other lawmakers.

Our correspondent also learnt on Thursday that the PML members submitted another petition to the ICPC on Wednesday, asking for the investigation of their allegations.

SERAP was also said to have simultaneously submitted another petition to the ICPC on the same matter.

The group said in the petition by its Executive Director, Mr. Adetokunbo Mumuni, that a decisive action by the anti-graft agency was capable of restoring transparency and accountability to the National Assembly.

SERAP stated that it was “seriously concerned” that the allegations constituted grave breach of the corrupt practices and other related Act 2000, the public procurement Act 2007, and the United Nations Convention against corruption.

It said, “The ICPC should equally ensure that it concludes investigations into previous allegations against the speaker, most especially an allegation that some members of his family are beneficiaries of contracts on National Rural Electrification project.

“We are further concerned that allegations of corruption by lawmakers would undermine the credibility of the legislative process.

“It will impede the ability of the House to effectively play its constitutional role or to provide the necessary leadership in the anti corruption fight.

“The allegations also amount to a grave breach of constitutional provisions and would undermine the constitutional role of the House of Representatives to make law for the good and development of the country.

“The ICPC should make public the outcome of its investigations. The commission should also ensure the recovery of any money that is the subject of corruption and ensure that those suspected to be responsible are brought to justice.”

Specifically, it wants the ICPC to investigate whether the purchase of four Range Rover Sport Utility Vehicles; three Mercedes Benz S-600 cars allegedly for N335m for the Office of the Speaker and his deputy followed due process.

They also want the commission to look into another allegation that the House leadership purchased a unit of LCD 40- inch Samsung television sets for N525,000, instead of the market price of N180,000.

When contacted, the ICPC Resident Consultant, Media and Events, Mr. Folu Olamiti, confirmed that the PML and SERAP submitted separate petitions to the commission on Wednesday.

He said, “We received the petitions on Wednesday. I can assure you that we will investigate them. The chairman has already directed the setting up of a special unit to investigate the matter because of its sensitive nature.

“We will do the job effectively and I can assure you that we will not spare anybody found to have misused public fund if found guilty, irrespective of their status.”

Ethiopian children go hungry as government response faulted

2010-06-07T02:54:00.000-07:00

In the week after this clinic was opened by the medical charity Doctors Without Borders, nearly 300 children like Alfiya were admitted for severe malnutrition. In the poor farming villages around Shashemene, in drought-ravaged southern Ethiopia , aid workers believe that hundreds and perhaps thousands more children are starving.

A serious drought and the worldwide surge in food prices are fueling one of Ethiopia’s gravest hunger crises in years, with 6 million children younger than five urgently needing food, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund , or UNICEF . Relief workers say scores of children already have died.

But international humanitarian groups say the Ethiopian government has been slow to respond. Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s government hasn’t publicly declared an emergency and, the agencies say, has downplayed their estimates of the severity of the situation.

Arid, overpopulated and chronically hungry, Ethiopia receives more food aid than all but a handful of countries worldwide— most of it from the United States , which has provided $300 million in emergency assistance to relief agencies in the past year. U.S. officials defend Ethiopia , a key regional ally, arguing that the government was caught off-guard by the extent of the drought and by how quickly malnutrition rates rose in recent months.

But there were warning signs.

A U.S. humanitarian assessment mission warned in January that humanitarian conditions “could significantly deteriorate” in the impoverished southeastern Somali region. By February— as rainfall remained scant, maize and other staple crops failed and inflation soared— international aid workers reported that malnourished children were showing up at hospitals in southern Ethiopia .

In an address to parliament on March 18 , Meles said that reports of drought-related deaths were “false.” It wasn’t until last week that a delegation of Ethiopian emergency relief officials toured Shashemene and other parts of the drought-ravaged south. According to humanitarian officials who were briefed on the visit, the Ethiopians were “shocked” by the conditions and pledged to respond.

“It is absolutely critical at this stage that the government of Ethiopia recognizes the depth of its problem, and works to ensure that its children survive this crisis,” said one senior international aid official who, like several interviewed for this story, requested anonymity for fear of angering Ethiopian officials.

The head of another international relief group said: “Is it a lack of information or is it denial? The government needs to recognize this is an emergency, to convene donors and to facilitate the arrival of assistance in the country.”

Ethiopian officials weren’t available for comment. But the inability to feed itself is at odds with the image that the government wants to project: that of a country on the rise, with annual economic growth of around 10 percent, fresh off a massive coming-out celebration last year to mark the year 2000 on the Ethiopian calendar.

At the Doctors Without Borders clinic in Shashemene, 150 miles south of Addis Ababa , 277 children were admitted in the first eight days. Hundreds more are in outpatient care in far-flung clinics in the countryside. In Seraro, a remote town about two hours from here, aid workers reported that 55 had died by mid-May.

The children in Shashemene are faring slightly better. Four have died, but the vast majority are slowly putting on weight thanks to a steady diet of fortified milk and Plumpy’nut— a protein-enriched, peanut butter-like paste often used in famine relief.

On a recent afternoon, a group of mothers smiled as 12-month-old Hirwot, who’d been admitted a week earlier with persistent diarrhea, weighed in at 3 pounds heavier and was transferred out of the ward reserved for the most serious cases.

Alfiya, the 9-month-old, looked in awful shape when her mother brought her in from their village 50 miles away. Her limp body was swallowed by a pale green sweater and flies buzzed about her head, which was scabbed with sores.

But Veronique DeClerck , a Belgian midwife who inspected the child, pronounced that she would survive.

“Now that she’s here, she gets treatment and she’ll make it,” DeClerck said. “But the problem is when they go home, and there’s still no food.”

Relief agencies say they badly need more Plumpy’nut, vitamin-enriched milk, antibiotics and other treatments. Some agencies complain that the government continues to impose heavy import duties on emergency supplements like Plumpy’nut, which is taxed at about 50 percent.

Of $50 million needed for life-saving food and medical care, UNICEF says that donor countries have chipped in only $6 million .

“We are far from knowing the magnitude of the situation,” said Francois Calas , country coordinator for the Belgian arm of Doctors Without Borders. “We can expect the coming months to be very difficult as well.”

Relations between the government and relief agencies are severely strained. Last year, during a secretive military operation against rebels in the Somali region, also known as the Ogaden, the government temporarily expelled the International Committee of the Red Cross and teams from Doctors Without Borders from the area. Ogaden refugees have since described massive human rights violations by Ethiopian soldiers.

Earlier in 2007, the government refused to declare a cholera outbreak that killed hundreds of people and infected more than 60,000. Despite U.N. tests showing that the epidemic was indeed cholera, Ethiopian officials insisted on calling it “acute watery diarrhea,” which may have slowed the international response, aid officials said.

Embattled Japanese Prime Minister Resigns

2010-06-07T02:45:00.000-07:00

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, whose party swept away nearly half a century of rule by the sclerotic LDP, has tendered his resignation just eight months after his election. Like many of his predecessors, he became mired in funding scandals. He was slow to deliver on campaign promises, and he reversed himself on the key issue of U.S. forces on Okinawa, allowing them to stay on the island rather than insisting that they leave.

Is Jesus God?

2010-05-25T04:07:00.000-07:00

Is Jesus God?
Have you ever met a man with such personal magnetism that he is always the center of attention? Possibly his personality or intelligence---but something about him is enigmatic. Well, that’s the way it was two thousand years ago with Jesus Christ. But it wasn’t merely Jesus’ personality that captivated his followers. Those who witnessed his words and life tell us that even though he was human, he was remarkably different from all other men.

Eyewitnesses tell us that Jesus was a man who grew physically, ate, slept, felt pain, and eventually died. Their written accounts also describe Jesus as walking on water, calming storms, healing the blind and lame, and even raising the dead. Furthermore, they tell us that Jesus appeared alive to them after they watched him die on the cross.

Jesus’ greatness was obvious to all those who saw and heard him. But, whereas most great people simply fade into history books, Jesus of Nazareth is still the focus of numerous books and media controversy. And much of that controversy revolves around the radical claims Jesus made about himself.

As an unheralded carpenter from an obscure Judean village in what is modern day Israel, Jesus made claims that, if true, have profound implications on our lives. Jesus said that those who have seen him, have seen God, and that the way to God is through him---alone. According to Jesus, you and I are special, part of God’s great plan for us, with him as the center of it all. These and other claims like them stunned everyone who heard them uttered.

It was primarily Jesus’ outrageous claims that caused him to be viewed as a threat by both the Roman authorities and the Jewish hierarchy. Although he was an outsider with no credentials or political powerbase, within three years, Jesus changed the world for the next 20 centuries.

Although some have wondered if Jesus really existed, even most non-Christian scholars acknowledge him as a real person. The great non-Christian historian, H. G. Wells, speaks ranked Jesus as the most influential person ever (see http://www.y-jesus.com/bornid_1.php). Other great leaders have left an impact---but nothing like that unknown carpenter from Nazareth.

What was it about Jesus Christ that made the difference? Was he merely a great man, or something more? Some believe he was merely a great moral teacher; others believe he was simply the leader of the world’s greatest religion. But many, including former skeptics, believe something far more.

Former Cambridge professor and skeptic C. S. Lewis came to the shocking conclusion that Jesus’ claims wouldn’t allow us to call him simply a great moral teacher.

So who is the real Jesus? Let’s take a closer look at this man who changed our world.

As we take a deeper look at the world’s most controversial person, we begin by asking: could Jesus have been merely a great moral teacher?

Jamaica declares emergency in capital after attacksJamaica declares emergency in capital after attacks

2010-05-25T04:03:00.000-07:00

KINGSTON (Reuters) – Jamaica declared a state of emergency in two parishes of its capital Kingston on Sunday after shooting and firebomb attacks on police stations by suspected supporters of an alleged drug lord who faces extradition to the United States.

"A state of public emergency, limited to the parishes of Kingston and St. Andrew, has been declared and will come into effect at 6:00 p.m. (2300 GMT) today," the government's Jamaica Information Service (JIS) said.

The limited emergency in the popular Caribbean tourist destination covered districts of the capital where gunmen on Sunday fired on two police stations and set fire to another. At least one policemen was injured.

The attackers were suspected supporters of Christopher "Dudus" Coke whom the government has called on to surrender to face a U.S. extradition request on cocaine trafficking and gun-running charges.

Streets into the poor Tivoli Gardens area of West Kingston, where Coke is believed to be hiding, were barricaded on Sunday in defiance of a police call for Coke to hand himself over, witnesses said.

The U.S. Department of State has issued a travel alert warning its citizens of the possibility of violence in Jamaica's Kingston Metropolitan area.

Tensions in Jamaica rose over the last week after Prime Minister Bruce Golding announced he was starting proceedings to extradite Coke. U.S. prosecutors describe Coke as the leader of the infamous "Shower Posse" that murdered hundreds of people during the cocaine wars of the 1980s.

Relations between Jamaica and the United States grew strained when Jamaica initially spurned a 2009 extradition request for Coke, who is a supporter of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party and wields influence in the volatile inner city constituency that Golding represents.

JAMAICA FOLLOWING IMF LOAN PROGRAM

The violence comes as the government is moving ahead with an International Monetary Fund loan program.

The IMF in February finalized a $1.27 billion loan for Jamaica, its first loan from the fund in 15 years, to help the Caribbean nation address deep-rooted weaknesses in its economy and make it less vulnerable to economic shocks, such as last year's financial crisis.

The United States requested Coke's extradition in August 2009 but Jamaica initially refused, alleging that U.S. evidence against him had been gathered through illegal wiretaps.

In its annual narcotics control strategy report in March, the U.S. State Department said Coke's ties to Jamaica's ruling party "highlights the potential depth of corruption in the government."

Golding acknowledged in parliament earlier this month that he had been aware that his party hired a U.S. law firm to lobby the Obama administration against pursuing Coke's extradition.

He had initially denied knowledge of the hiring but later said he had sanctioned it in his capacity as leader of the ruling party and not as prime minister.

The admission prompted demands for the resignation of Golding, who is midway through a five-year term.

(Editing by Pascal Fletcher and Cynthia Osterman)

peace returns to normalcy in bangkok

2010-05-25T03:54:00.000-07:00

In a change of strategy seeking the ouster of Thailand's government, parliamentary Opposition submitted a no-confidence motion against it for its suppression of a two-month anti-government protest that killed 88 and injured more tan 1,000 others.

Monday, the Puea Thai Party submitted a resolution marking no-confidence in the government with Upper House Speaker Prasob Sukboondej and Lower House presiding officer Chai Chitchob.

A decision weather to put it to vote will be taken after a week.

The Opposition also submitted impeachment motions against Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, his Deputy in charge of security Suthep Thaugsuban, Interior Minister Chavarat Charnvirakul and Transport Minister Sopon Zarum.

The military operation was the government's last resort to break up the stand-off that paralyzed parts of Bangkok since March 12 as thousands of demonstrators vowed to continue the protests until Abhisit steps down, dissolves Parliament and calls fresh elections.

Abhisit, who had restrained for long calling on his political opponents to find a solution to the turmoil through negotiations, proposed a peace plan that dissolves the Parliament by September 30 and holds elections on November 14.

The protesters, mainly supporters of exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, have been continuing the protests even after Abhisit yielded to their demands.Abhisit backed out of his proposal, as the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) refused to leave its protest site, prompting authorities to announce a crackdown on the movement on May 13.

The UDD was formed by the cadres of Puea Thai Party, whose de facto leader is Thaksin.

Meanwhile, life in capital Bangkok is returning to normal, with offices, schools, and businesses reopened after violent street protests ended.

Abhisit said he is returning to his official residence after spending the past nine weeks in the headquarters of the 11th Infantry in the north of the city.

Australian Embassy in Bangkok, closed last week in the wake of violent clashes between security forces and anti-government protesters, was reopened on Monday.

Located in the busy diplomatic area of strife-torn Sathorn Road, only essential staff reported for work since last Monday in the Australian Embassy which maintained core services.

However, emergency law and a night curfew, imposed after last week's final crackdown in Bangkok, will remain in force.

probne into n.n.p.c to be made public

2010-05-25T03:44:00.000-07:00

Nigerians will know the outcome of the probe into the accounts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, the Minister of Finance, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, has said.

Aganga, who spoke in an exclusive interview with one of our correspondents in Abuja on Friday, said the Ministry of Finance had begun work on the audit as directed by President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said that unlike previous audits, the current process would be transparent as the public would be carried along the different stages.

He disclosed that local and international firms had already been invited to execute the directive, but he did not name particular firms.

The minister said, ”Mr. President directed that we should carry out an audit of the NNPC and we have started acting on that directive. We have invited international firms, local and firms to begin the audit.

”What I have read is that there had been quite a number of audits and that people knew when those instructions were given; they sometimes did not know when they were implemented, but more importantly, they didn‘t get to hear the findings. This time, you will hear the findings.”

Jonathan had last Monday removed Alhaji Shehu Ladan as the Group Managing Director of NNPC and ordered a comprehensive audit of the corporation‘s accounts.

Some oil unions and experts are, however, sceptical about what the probe will achieve.

According to them, the exercise should not be a publicity stunt but a painstaking exercise to determine the true financial health of the corporation.

It had been expected that a comprehensive audit of the NNPC should precede the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, a comprehensive bill designed to reform the Nigerian oil industry, scheduled to be passed into law in August.

Long seen as a company not governed by transparent financial rule, the NNPC has changed course over the years from a national oil company, virtually into a government department where top management staff are changed at will by successive governments and where contracts are awarded to cronies of people in power.

A former Executive Director of the NNPC, Mr. Alex Ogedegbe, said, ”NNPC, like any other corporation, public or private, must by law have its accounts audited by an externally appointed auditor annually, and the results approved by its board. The board is also obligated by law to publish the approved accounts in the media.

”However, the Federal Government as the owner of NNPC can also authorise additional, special or extraordinary audit. Then specific issues and terms of reference must be given to the auditing company so chosen for the assignment. This is to ensure a well focused and successful exercise.”

He added that if the above conditions had governed Federal Government announcement, ”then we shall have to see how they proceed with the implementation and what the Federal Government does with the results.”

He noted that from past experience, it was unusual for such audit to satisfy public expectation because the entire process could be adversely influenced right from the beginning.

He linked this to vagueness or ambiguity of the issues and terms of reference through the selection of the auditing firm to non-disclosure of the final results.

Ogedegbe said, ”All these steps are the prerogative of the principals of the Federal Government, who are put in charge. If the announcement was a political gimmick like the Obasanjo-appointed Constitutional Conference jamboree, then we should expect nothing useful. If different, we shall all see later. Ideally, this should help resolve the many issues surrounding the funding, application of those funds and the overall governance issues of the NNPC management.”

However, to a former Group Managing Director, NNPC, Mr. Chamberlain Oyibo, government was right to have initiated the probe, despite the fact that the company‘s accounts were usually audited every year by the office of the Accountants General of the Federation.

”If there are lapses found, it will help government to streamline them before the corporation will be transformed into a commercial entity,” he noted.

On the importance of the probe, the President, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, Mr. Babatunde Ogun, said before the passage of the PIB, the financial status of NNPC and its subsidiaries must be known.

”We need to know how the NNPC has been managing the importation of petroleum products and how it has been funding it. If there are losses made, we should know how they came about,” he said in a telephone interview with one of our correspondents on Sunday.

He also said that the assets of the corporation and its subsidiaries should be valued properly in preparation for the passage of the PIB.

”We also need to know the true state of the nation‘s refineries, how much they produce and their true value,” the union leader added.

The Chairman, South West Zone, National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, Mr. Nojeem Korodo, supported the current audit, saying, “The union totally supports auditing of the corporation‘s accounts.”

He, however, called for transparency, adding that the audit report should be published at the end of the process.

A former Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mr. Mohammed Barkindo, had put the negative cash flow of the company before he left office at about N200bn.

According to Barkindo, the refineries lost about N29bn in 2009, while operating at a dismally low capacity utilisation level of 13 per cent. Actual premium motor spirit produced during the same period also dropped to about 18 per cent as against the 30 per cent planned yield.

He noted that the operations of the corporation‘s subsidiary in the upstream sector, the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company, were not particularly encouraging as the outfit was incurring very high production cost, one of the highest in the industry.

Speaking on the challenges posed by the precarious state of NNPC finances, Barkindo said under the 2008 financial year, NNPC recorded negative cash-flow to the tune of N326bn.

”So commercially speaking, NNPC can be said to be technically insolvent. If the corporation were to be operating under the Companies and Allied Matters Act, the company would have been pencilled for liquidation from business,” he said.

Part of the huge negative financial profile was recorded through the contracts for the repair of damage pipelines network, especially the Forcados pipeline, which gulped N11bn and the Escravos-to-Lagos pipeline, which cost the company more than N4bn to fix.

German push for stricter rules piles pressure on embattled euro

2010-05-25T03:38:00.000-07:00

Germany is forging ahead with plans to reform the euro at a time when the 16-nation common currency is once again under siege on the foreign exchange markets after a respite following eurozone agreement on a $1 trillion (£693bn) bailout package for debt-ridden partner Greece.

In addition to pushing for increased regulation of hedge funds and of the financial markets, Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government has drafted a list of proposals to revamp the European common currency. From suspending voting rights to national bankruptcy proceedings, the plan is wide-ranging.

The Chancellor started her offensive last week when the Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (BaFin or the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority), slapped a ban on uncovered short-selling of eurozone government debt, prohibiting traders from buying default protection against government bonds they do not own. The move is designed to stabilise turbulent financial markets.

Merkel has also been working with her finance minister and economics minister on far-reaching changes to the treaty underpinning the euro.

According to a draft paper obtained by the respected German business daily Handelsblatt, Merkel’s government would like to see increased monitoring of member states’ annual budget proposals, the introduction of stiff sanctions for those in violation of eurozone debt rules and the suspension of voting rights in the European Council. Furthermore, Germany wants to establish bankruptcy proceedings for insolvent eurozone countries.

“A crisis like that in Greece cannot be allowed to be repeated in the currency union,” the draft paper concludes, according to Handelsblatt.

While many traders have dismissed BaFin’s move on short selling as political posturing, the situation may be more complicated.

An internal BaFin note in February said German banks held €522bn of exposure to government bonds in Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece and Spain. It warned of “violent market disruptions” if contagion spread beyond Greece, sparking a “downward spiral in these countries, as in the case of Argentina”.

The ban on short-selling has not gone down well with investors. Stock markets across Europe fell sharply last week just hours after BaFin announced the measure on Tuesday. The euro also lost value against the dollar but held its own against sterling.

Analysts said the action taken by the German financial regulator will test EU cohesion and pile even more pressure on the euro.

“If the market can’t vent its frustration by selling eurozone government bonds or (credit default swaps), it will sell the euro,” said Steven Barrow, a currency strategist at

Standard Bank.

There’s general unease in the markets about the reasoning behind Germany’s decision. Many analysts believe that central banks around the world will have to intervene to slow down the euro’s fall.

“German restrictions on short-selling seem set to send another shockwave across markets as investors are once again left asking questions over the resilience of Europe,” said Ben Potter, a research analyst at IG Markets.

The regulator has stopped investment banks, hedge funds and other investors from naked short-selling of eurozone government bonds and from purchasing credit default swaps on government debt unless they own the underlying bonds. The ban also extends to short-sales of 10 German financial institutions.

BaFin cited “extraordinary volatility” in debt securities issued by eurozone countries, noting that spreads on credit default swaps had widened sharply amid the crisis. Credit default swaps (CDS) provide protection against

non-payment by a borrower and have also been a popular vehicle for speculating on the probability of default.

But if the move was designed to calm financial markets, it appeared to have the opposite effect.

The euro came under selling pressure in North American trading soon after the ban, falling below $1.22 – a fresh four-year low against the dollar.

Strategists at KBC Bank in Brussels said Germany’s decision to impose the ban in isolation, despite talk of an eventual wider move by the European Union to limit short sales, added to market jitters and raised numerous questions, including whether the German government knows “something more about the situation of some institutions”.

The main issue, however, is that the German decision only serves to underline fears that euro bloc authorities have no plan capable of tackling the problem of some members’ unsustainable finances.

If the German move proves to be effective, it may well take pressure out of the CDS market but at the cost of an apparent breakdown of a unified eurozone response to the crisis.

The BaFin decision comes at a critical time for the future of the euro, which has been badly weakened by sovereign debt problems in Greece, Spain and Portugal. Speculation has grown in recent weeks that the eurozone may not survive the present crisis.

Tension in the financial markets spiked higher last Wednesday after Merkel warned that the single European currency was in danger of collapse, and that Europe faced its greatest crisis in decades.

“Every one of us here can feel that the current crisis of the euro is the greatest challenge that Europe has faced for decades, since the signing of the Treaty of Rome,” Merkel said in a speech to the German Bundestag.

“The euro is in danger ... If we don’t deal with this danger, then the consequences for us in Europe are incalculable.”

Merkel’s warning came only a few days after the president of the European Central Bank, Jean-Claude Trichet, said that Europe was facing “severe tensions” and that the markets were fragile.

For Europe’s banks, the problems are twofold. Short-term borrowing costs are rising, which could lead institutions to cut back on new loans and call in old ones, crimping economic growth.

At the same time, seemingly safe institutions in more solid economies like France and Germany hold vast amounts of bonds from their more shaky neighbours, like Spain, Portugal and Greece.

Investors fear that with many governments groaning under the weight of huge deficits, the debt of weaker nations that use the euro currency will have to be restructured, deeply lowering the value of their bonds. That would hit European financial institutions hard and may feed through the global banking system.

Britain will not be spared if the euro area is rocked by more financial difficulties.

Adam Posen, an American economist and member of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee, said Britain would be in trouble if the eurozone tipped back into recession because it is so heavily dependent on the region for trade.

“This is a huge risk to the UK. 60% of our trade is with the euro area. So we view this as a very real risk,” he told US National Public Radio.

“We’re small compared to the euro area. If the euro area goes down then that does have a huge impact on us. There’s not much we can do about it.”

Posen said that the eurozone faced low growth in the foreseeable future, which he said explained the euro’s steep fall and market volatility despite the big rescue package for Greece agreed by eurozone members earlier this month.

Posen also said he thought it unlikely that the euro system would collapse, but he conceded “it’s certainly more likely now than it ever was at any point in the previous 11 years, the 11 years the euro has existed”.

Military Leader of ETA Under Arrest

2010-05-25T03:28:00.000-07:00

French and Spanish authorities have arrested six alleged members of ETA, including the reported military leader of the Basque separatist group.The French Interior Ministry said the arrests of the ETA members took place in the French Basque region. Among those nabbed was ETA's presumed military chief, Mikel Karrera Sarobe, and two others.

Spain's Interior Ministry said three other suspected members were arrested in a separate location along with one of their companions. The arrests were made by French police and the Spanish Civil Guards.

If confirmed, the arrest of ETA's military chief is the latest in a series setbacks for the separatist group, which has waged a bloody campaign for an independent Basque state in parts of northern Spain and southwestern France. ETA is blamed for the deaths of more than 800 people during the past four decades, with most of the assassinations taking place in Spain.

French ETA expert Christian Aguerre says the arrests underscore the group's increasing weakness. French and Spanish authorities have arrested five other ETA leaders during the past two years.

Aguerre said that in the 1980s and 1990s, authorities arrested key ETA members every few years. Today, it is happening every few months. The replacements are increasingly young and inexperienced.

Aguerre believes ETA will eventually be eradicated, but it is impossible to say when. He doubts it will take place this year or even in a few years from now.

ETA has increasingly lost support among ordinary Basques, partly because of its bloody tactics. At the same time, Aguerre notes, it has always been able to find young, disenfranchised Basques to join its cause

Namadi Sambo sworn in as Vice President

2010-05-24T03:24:00.000-07:00

The Kaduna state Governor Namadi Sambo was on Wednesday sworn in as Nigeria's Vice President, state television showed.

President Goodluck Jonathan, government ministers, state governors and ambassadors watched as Mr. Sambo took the oath of office at the presidential villa in Abuja

iran has agree to send uranium abroad

2010-05-18T05:55:00.000-07:00

Iran had rejected an original U.N.-backed deal with Russia, the United States and France to ship 1,200 kg (2,646 lb) of its five percent enriched uranium abroad for transformation into fuel for a medical research reactor.

In a major policy shift after months of deadlock, Iran, under Brazilian and Turkish mediation, accepted to swap the fuel outside its territory.

Following are some questions about Iran's intentions:

IS THIS A TACTICAL MASTER STROKE?

Iran faces a fourth round of U.N. sanctions over its refusal to halt uranium enrichment-related activities. The agreement may split the major powers and allow China and Russia, veto-wielding members of the U.N. Security Council, to argue against sanctions. Their response will be of crucial importance.

By making last-minute concessions since the U.N.-drafted swap deal was put at the table last October, Iran has already bought time in its attempt to enrich uranium.

"Iran has had time to enrich a substantial amount of new LEU in the six to nine months which have passed since the first round of potential LEU-for-20%-enriched-fuel proposal was tabled, making the 1,200 kg of LEU constitute a less comprehensive part of its total LEU stockpile," said analyst Gala Riani of IHS Global Insight.

"It is perhaps too early to tell whether the deal represents a resounding success for Iran and its partners ... For Iran, by engaging Brazil and Turkey, its independence has been marked and Western efforts to reach an agreement rebuffed. Even so, the deal differs little in content from the October agreement reached last year. Iran has unlocked nine months of impasse, although by now the agreement is -- from a Western perspective -- less relevant and comprehensive than when it first was launched."

DIPLOMATIC COUP?

The deal, struck with Brazil and Turkey and not with Iran's Western adversaries, is likely to make it easier for the hardline Iranian leadership and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to get domestic support for the agreement.

It enables Iran to meet Western terms without dealing directly with major powers. Erdogan, who took a stand against Israel's attack on Gaza in 2008, is a much more palatable figure for the establishment to deal with and sell a deal at home.

At home, any breakthrough in the nuclear standoff with the West could boost President Ahmadinejad credentials.

HAS IRAN COMPROMISED ON NUCLEAR FUEL DEAL?

Yes, it has made tactical concessions. Until recently Iranian officials, who say their country's atomic program is purely for peaceful purposes, insisted that any fuel exchange should take place on Iranian soil simultaneously -- conditions that have been rejected by major powers. Under the new swap deal it is obvious that Tehran has changed its official stand.

WHAT MAY HAPPEN AFTER THE SWAP DEAL

Uranium enrichment is at the center of Western suspicions over Tehran's atomic program, because if highly purified, it can be used to make the fissile material for a bomb. After signing the deal, Iran said it will continue its 20 percent uranium enrichment work, which western powers insist Iran must halt enrichment as a condition for fuel swap.

The deal may fail if Iran's arch foes, the United States, and its European allies insist on suspension of Iran's enrichment activities.

For Iran to be seen as averting a new round of sanctions while not compromising on the crucial issue of Iranian enrichment would help the leadership regain its legitimacy at home after months of unrest erupted following the disputed presidential vote in June.

The nuclear dispute has been used by the establishment as a tool to forge domestic unity. Ahmadinejad's opponents have criticized his policies but they have never questioned Iran's determination to obtain nuclear technology.

Iran, which wants to be acknowledged as a regional power, has no intention of compromising over its uranium enrichment activities.

Suspension of uranium enrichment activities may guarantee the clerical establishment's international credibility, but the establishment may face difficulties justifying the move to its core supporters, who have repeatedly rejected any compromise with the West.

Iran says its nuclear work is aimed at generating power and has made it clear that uranium enrichment suspension is a red line for the Islamic state, which the hardline authorities will never accept.

Nigeria: IBB - Obasanjo Was a Failure

2010-05-18T05:39:00.000-07:00

Babangida, fondly called IBB, who spoke to Kano Radio Freedom, said during his time oil sold for $18 per barrel yet his administration was able to carry out several projects that impacted on the lives of Nigerians.

"But surprisingly, from 1999 to date, the money Nigeria has generated is far bigger than ours. Mind you, at a time, oil was sold at $100 per barrel and even above. Even with that, we have nothing to show for that money. Government has completely failed to impact on the lives of its citizens," he said.

He said in the past he had not devoted much effort and energy into his presidential ambition, stressing that this time around, he would do everything possible to return to Aso Villa.

Again, IBB said he never mismanaged the $12 billion oil wind fall, saying the amount was what was generated from the six years his administration lasted, but that only $2 billion was realised from the oil windfall.

He said: "When there were lots of pressure on what to do with the money we decided to establishe a committee that will advise us on what to do and we acted on their recommendations saving some and carrying out huge projects. Even when the late Sani Abacha government came, he created a committee to restructure the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which was even misunderstood by some people to be a mission to probe my government. The records are there to speak for themselves, and anybody that is not satisfied should carry out his own investigation, but certainly we are clean."
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Babangida said the burden of the annulment of June 12, election still remains on him, because as leader, he did what he was supposed to do, and that he will never come out to explain exactly why he annulled the election: "if today I do that, some people will still come out and said look at this stupid man, after 17 years he is now telling Nigerians story, so I better remain silent on that action."

He said he withdraw from the 2007 Presidential race, "when I saw it was Umaru Yar'Adua who is my brother that was chosen and because I was convinced beyond reasonable doubt that the man was an achiever. I decided to give way for him. But that does not mean this time around I will do the same no way. I'm all out for the contest and God will certainly help me to go back to Aso Rock," he said.

Babangida said if given the chance to rule the country again with his experience, he will make Nigeria a safer place to live and a country worth being proud off. "That why I was among those who advised Yar'Adua to carry out the dredging of the River Niger, because I knew it will be of immense importance to the country."

thai general was shot is dead

2010-05-18T05:05:00.000-07:00

The escalating violence has turned parts of the city into no-go zones as troops use live ammunition against protesters, who have blocked streets with burning tyres and fought back, mainly with homemade weapons.

Protest leader Nattawut Saikuar telephoned a top aide to the prime minister to offer to call Reds back to the main protest camp from outlying areas, where fierce street battles have occurred, said the aide Korbsak Sabhavasu.

"He said that if soldiers stop firing, he will call protesters back to the Ratchaprasong site," Korbsak Sabhavasu said.

"If he calls protesters back to Ratchaprasong site and stops the action around Bangkok, there will be no more bullets fired by soldiers. Soldiers have not invaded the protest site," said Korbsak, the premier's secretary general.

Protesters were ordered to leave by 3:00 pm (0800 GMT) Monday. Authorities dropped leaflets from a small plane asking people to evacuate the area, which remained calm by late evening.

The UN's human rights chief called on both sides to negotiate an end to the violence.

"Ultimately, this situation can only be resolved by negotiation. I urge leaders to set aside pride and politics for the sake of the people of Thailand," said Navi Pillay in a statement.

"To prevent further loss of life, I appeal to the protestors to step back from the brink, and the security forces to exercise maximum restraint in line with the instructions given by the government," she added.

Normally bustling streets in much of the capital almost emptied as Thai hospitals were put on alert to receive heavy casualties in the event security forces attempted to clear the Reds' encampment.

But defiant Red Shirts were seen dancing and a Buddhist monk led prayers on the stage inside the rally site, where the government said an estimated 3,000 people remained despite the threat of forced dispersal.

Satit Wonghnongtaey, minister attached to the prime minister's office, said the authorities would "do everything possible" to tell the Reds to leave, using television and radio messages, loudspeaker trucks and leaflets.

Those who stay face two years in prison, the government said, warning also that their lives are at risk from "terrorist attack" at the rally site.

Thai authorities said Sunday they would send the Red Cross to help evacuate the area of women, children and the elderly who wanted to leave.

But there was no rush to leave the camp where men, children and women -- including a breast-feeding mother -- remained on Monday.

Earlier in the day, behind a Red Shirt barricade on the edge of the camp Vinit Virangtong, 43, dragged a suitcase deeper inside the danger zone.

"I'm staying here but I'm moving inside," he said. "The situation is now dangerous. They're shooting into here and it's not safe."

The recent spate of heavy violence began after Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva shelved a plan to hold early elections -- which the Red Shirts initially agreed to -- because the protesters refused to disperse.

Major-General Khattiya Sawasdipol, a key Red backer known as Seh Daeng, died in hospital Monday as another person also died, raising the toll from street violence since late Thursday to 38 dead and more than 270 injured, officials said.

About 1,000 people attended a funeral for the general at a pagoda in the city's historic district.

The government has ordered schools not to reopen after summer holidays, and it declared two days of national holidays to keep civilians off the streets.

Commuter train services were shut for the third straight day and large parts of the city of 12 million people -- including the Silom financial and entertainment district -- remained too risky to enter.

The Reds consider the government illegitimate because it came to power in a 2008 parliamentary vote after a court ruling ousted elected allies of their hero, telecoms tycoon turned former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Thaksin called on the government and his Red Shirt supporters in a Monday statement to step back from a "terrible abyss" and start talks to end violence.

Australia became the latest country to close its Bangkok embassy to visitors.

The two-month crisis has now left 67 people dead and about 1,700 wounded. Twenty-five people died in a failed army crackdown on April 10.

islamic rebels attack somalia parliament

2010-05-18T04:32:00.000-07:00

Islamist rebels shelled Somalia’s newly rebuilt parliament in Mogadishu on Sunday, sparking clashes with government forces and African Union peacekeepers that left 11 civilians dead, officials said.

The violence came as political turmoil erupted inside parliament itself, with many of the war-wracked nation’s lawmakers voting to sack the speaker after he called for the president to sack the prime minister.

Hardline Shebab militants, who are linked to al-Qaeda, opened fire with mortars in the direction of the recently renovated parliament building, which was preparing to host a session for the first time in 20 years.

Government troops and forces from the African Union retaliated with heavy artillery and mortars toward the city’s southern Bakara area, one of the main rebel strongholds, officials and medical sources said.

“Several artillery salvos and mortars hit Bakara market. Eleven civilians were killed and 52 wounded,” said Ali Muse, head of the Mogadishu ambulance service. “The terrorists tried to attack the parliament building, but the government forces defeated them and many of their fighters were killed in the clashes,” said Ali Hassan, a government security official.

The building did not appear to have been hit by the militant shelling.

Meanwhile, the Russian military did not intend to kill Somali pirates who are believed to be dead after being set afloat at sea in a small boat about 10 days ago, a senior commander was quoted as saying yesterday.

Navy captain Ildar Akhmerov confirmed earlier reports that the 10 captured pirates and their one dead comrade who had attempted to seize a Russian oil tanker were put to sea in a boat without any navigation equipment.

“We did not have the task of destroying the pirates during the operation to free the tanker. There was one main goal — to free the ship’s crew,” Akhmerov was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency.

“Our military medics gave the necessary medical help to all of the wounded bandits. We loaded the dead bandit’s body onto one of the pirates’ boats with the rest of the pirates and sent it to the nearest coast, toward Somalia,” he said.

“We loaded water, food and all their other things — except the confiscated weapons, boarding ladders and navigation tools — into the pirates’ boat,” he said. “The further fate of the released pirates is not known to us

new vice president emerge in nigeria

2010-05-18T04:15:00.002-07:00

AFTER much confusion on whether the Vice Presidential nominee, Governor Namadi Sambo of Kaduna State would appear or not at the House of Representatives for approval, the House, yesterday, confirmed to Vanguard that Sambo has, indeed, been invited to appear before it today.

Also, the Senate will, today, announce when it would commence the process of the approval of the nominee.

Section 146 sub-section 3 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria stipulates that the name of the nominated Vice President be sent to both chambers of the National Assembly for approval.

The constitution is, however, silent on the mode of the approval.

Speaking to Vanguard yesterday evening, the House Committee Chairman on Business and Rules, Rep Ita Enang said: "Governor Sambo will appear, because we have sent him an invitation based on the letter the President wrote to us last week.

"We feel that he should appear because we, as representatives of the people, need to find out how sound he is, since he was not part of the campaign that produced the leadership of the executive.

"We have received his résumé and all members have been forwarded copies to study. We would meet early in the morning tomorrow (today) to consider and adopt the procedure of engaging him when he comes.

"But, I want to assure you that the nominee will have almost a smooth sail because we had given President Jonathan Goodluck the promise.

"Sambo is a sitting governor, so he has passed all the issues of tax clearance, security report and all that. So that will not be areas of concern to us. As a Governor, you should know that he enjoys immunity too. He is also going to enjoy same when he becomes Vice President."

When Vanguard reminded him that there was a petition against Sambo with one of the anti-graft bodies, Enang replied: "That has not reached us yet. For all I know, he will appear tomorrow (today) and he will have a smooth sail."

The Senate will, today, announce a date it will commence the process of the confirmation of the vice presidential nominee, Alhaji Nnamadi Sambo.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information, Senator Ayogu Eze, who announced the formal receipt for the vice presidential nominee's resume, yesterday, did not expatiate on why the Senate would not commence the screening process immediately.

He merely stated: "In accordance with our rules, the letter informing the Senate of the nomination of Nnamdi Sambo, will be read as an official correspondence from Mr. President in plenary on Tuesday, 18 May, 2010. Thereafter a time and date will be set when the Senate shall approve the nomination in accordance with section 146, sub-section 3, of the 1999 Constitution."

Vanguard, however, gathered that the time frame was to allow the leadership of the Senate to douse tension about perceived opposition to the nomination of the governor of Kaduna State.

It was gathered that several meetings had been lined up by different caucuses in the Senate to convince those who were opposed to the nomination of Sambo to have a rethink in the interest of peace and stability in the country

Meanwhile, the Vice President-designate and Governor of Kaduna State, Mohammed Namadi Sambo, yesterday, reacted to criticisms trailing his nomination by certain individuals, describing them as "detractors."

Sambo who spoke while distributing 15 buses to religious organizations in the state, however, urged the people not to listen to such enemies of progress.
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He said: "We are calling on you not to listen to detractors. They are detractors, do not pay any attention to them. We have to move this state and this country forward together, let there be peace."

In what would appear as his last official assignment as a governor, Sambo, whose screening by the National Assembly comes up tomorrow, said he would give Jonathan all the cooperation needed for him to succeed within the short period of the administration.

While thanking President Goodluck Jonathan for considering him worthy of being his Vice President, Sambo said that he was nominated for the exalted position because of the cooperation he received from people of the state, which allowed him to govern Kaduna State in peace.

Apparently as a mark of solidarity to his deputy, Mr. Patrick Yakowa, who will succeed him as governor, Sambo kept on referring to him as "His Excellency, the governor-designate of Kaduna State" through out the duration of the exercise

violence thailand

2010-05-18T04:06:00.000-07:00

Thailand protests, Bangkok Violence: Clashes between protesters and security forces continued to take place on the streets of Bangkok in Thailand on Monday as thousands of anti-government demonstrators took no heed to the deadline set by the government.More than 5,000 protesters continue to clash on the streets following days of violent unrest that has killed almost 36 people since Thursday.

This violence in Thailand has led to U.N’s top human rights official to look into the issues that both sides are facing, so as to to resume talks and make a plan towards a non-violent and amicable resolution of the issue.

The High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said Monday :

“I urge leaders to set aside pride and politics for the sake of the people of Thailand. As the latest government deadline passes, there is a high risk that the situation could spiral out of control, to prevent further loss of life, I appeal to the protesters to step back from the brink, and the security forces to exercise maximum restraint in line with the instructions given by the government. Ultimately, this situation can only be resolved by negotiation.”

The capital of Thailand, Bangkok, continued to see clashes between the Red Shirt protesters and security forces on Monday.