Be Positive and Get a Job Faster
By: Tim Tyrell-Smith

It’s true that music can be a powerful tool for job seekers. But there are a lot of other ways to stay positive and indicate it to others. So read these seven indicators of a positive attitude during your job search.

You are smiling
I guess it seems obvious that a positive person would be smiling. But a job search can be stressful and busy. Not exactly the perfect environment for a smile to exist. So remember to bring your smile to networking events, job interviews and conferences. It tells people something about you from the moment you enter the room.

You are making eye contact
Combine eye contact with a smile and you are giving all the right signals to allow a conversation to start. It’s like opening a big door and saying: “Come on in.” And while you might think everyone at a networking event knows someone there or has no reservations, it’s not true. By initiating conversations with these nonverbal cues, you are playing a small leadership role for the event.  You are making the first connection.


You have a complete set of marketing materials (resume, bio, business card)
Being completely prepared for an event or meeting is the mark of a positive and confident job seeker. Having your materials ready says you are ready to communicate your brand and its value. And you’ve allowed someone to walk away with information to help you stay top of mind. This is important since we are all meeting so many people every week. It’s hard to keep track of everyone.

You are active and moving around the room at networking events
Some people just stand still at events—either in the corner waiting for an invitation or with a crowd of very comfortable friends. Positive people are looking to meet new contacts throughout the event because they believe someone will have an interest in their skills or background. Self-belief allows you to take risks in meeting people and sharing your brand promise.

You have a strong voice
If you have a voice that’s on the quieter side, you need to find a bigger one. Why? Because a quiet voice can hurt you during a busy networking event or job interview. If I can’t understand you or can’t hear you, there’s a basic problem. So I need to know what you are saying and have a sense that you stand by your words. A strong voice is my first indicator.

You are purposeful and have clear job search objectives
Networking or job searching with a purpose is a critical skill to learn. Until you do, the process will be impulsive and look more like socializing. And it will also deliver poor results. Having a purpose starts with clear job search objectives. A great answer to “What are you looking for?” is crucial. That answer should include a list of target companies.

You are helping others
This one has two sides. First, if you have time to help others, you must be doing something right. Second, helping others delivers a positive message to everyone around you. Those you help become evangelists within the local community. So consider taking a day off during your job search to help others.

Want to find a job faster? Be positive. Send a message to everyone around that you are worth an investment. And do it for the right reasons.

Five killed as Typhoon Roke batters tsunami-ravaged Japanese coast
A powerful typhoon is wreaking havoc across Japan having already killed at least five people as it approaches the country's tsunami-ravaged northeastern coast and the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant.

Typhoon Roke has already lashed Tokyo halting trains and stranding tens of thousands of commuters as it barreled northwards. Police and local media reported that six people were dead or missing after being swept away by rivers swollen with rains from the typhoon. Nearly 260,000 households in central Japan were without electricity, and authorities called for more than a million people to be evacuated in central and eastern Japan. The storm, packing sustained winds of up to 90 mph hit the country near the city of Hamamatsu, about 125 miles west of Tokyo.

Its projected coursewill take it near the damaged Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, where a small amount of radiation is still leaking after three of its reactors melted down when the tsunami cut off power to the plant and its back-up generators. Takeo Iwamoto, spokesman for Tokyo Electric Power Co., the utility that operates the plant, said the cooling system for the reactors, crucial to keeping them under control, will not be endangered by the typhoon. He said some construction work around the plant was canceled and utmost efforts were under way to prevent leaks of radioactive water and other material from the typhoon.

More pictures as you read on

The center of the fast-moving storm is now heading towards the northeastern region of Tohoku devastated by the March 11 tsunami and earthquake. Fire department officials reported three people were injured in Tokyo. In the trendy shopping district of Shibuya, winds knocked over a tree onto a sidewalk, but no one was hurt. Television footage showed pedestrians struggling to walk straight in powerful winds that made umbrellas useless. The Fire and Disaster Management Agency said just over one million people have been ordered or advised to evacuate across the country due to fear of flooding or mudslides triggered by the typhoon.

The city of Nagoya temporarily called off an evacuation warning for 880,000 people when swelling in a major river subsided, but officials said the warning could be reissued if conditions warranted. Heavy rains caused floods and road damage in dozens of locations in Nagoya and several other cities, the Aichi prefectural (state) government said. Parts of Japan's central city of Nagoya, about 170 miles west of Tokyo, were flooded near swollen rivers where rescue workers helped residents evacuate in rubber boats. Police in nearby Gifu prefecture said a nine-year-old boy and an 84-year-old man were missing after apparently falling into swollen rivers.

More than 200 domestic flights were canceled and some bullet train services were suspended. Toyota Motor Corp., Japan's No. 1 automaker, which is headquartered in Toyota city in Aichi, was shutting plants as a precaution. Machinery maker Mitsubishi Heavy Industries told workers to stay home at its five plants and an office in the Nagoya area, company spokesman Hideo Ikuno said. Nissan Motor Co. spokesman Chris Keeffe said workers at its Yokohama headquarters and nearby technical facilities were being told to go home early for safety reasons, and two plants were not operating.

Wenger names 18-man squad for Shrewsbury
Eighteen players have been selected for tonight's Caring Cup tie against Shrewsbury at Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal squad (in alphabetical order):
Chuks Aneke
Yossi Benayoun
Daniel Boateng
Marouane Chamakh
Francis Coquelin
Johan Djourou
Lukasz Fabianski
Emmanuel Frimpong
Kieran Gibbs
Carl Jenkinson
Damian Martinez
Ignasi Miquel
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Oguzhan Ozyakup
Ju Young Park
Ryo
Sanchez Watt
Nico Yennaris

CBN raised MPR to 9.25% - Increased cost of borrowing from Commercial Banks
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Monday  raised the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) by 50 basis points to 9.25 per cent from its current level of 8.75 per cent.

Although the hike is unlikely to affect banks' capacity to lend, it would, however, increase the cost of borrowing from commercial banks. CBN Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who unveiled this in Communiqué No. 78 of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting in Abuja, said the decision to further tighten the monetary policy was borne out of concerns over the volatility in the international financial market.

He also hinged the apex bank’s action on what he called the continuing expansionary fiscal stance and high component of recurrent expenditure and the “deepening” debt crisis in the Eurozone. Sanusi said the Eurozone’s financial challenges and other intervening problems in the sector had led to fears of a second recession as well as liquidity surge expected from the intervention of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) in the recapitalisation of the remaining five rescued banks. He said the resolve to raise the MPR was supported by a majority of eight to three members.

According to him, while seven members voted for 50-basis-point increase in MPR from 8.75 to 9.25 per cent, only one member voted for a 100-basis-point raise in interest rate and three members favoured the retention of the MPR at the current rate. He said a unanimous decision was taken to maintain the current symmetric corridor of +/-200 basis points around the MPR and also retain the current CRR of 4.0 per cent. Sanusi said: “The announcement of a target of one per cent annual reduction in government recurrent spending when viewed in the context of the anticipated injections associated with the implementation of the new national minimum wage, suggests that the fiscal retrenchment is likely to be drawn out.

“In addition, there is the weight of structural factors such as the announced hike in electricity tariffs and the expected removal of petroleum subsidy.” He also said: “The AMCON injection of N3.0 trillion is going to add to liquidity surge with the attendant adverse impact on prices" thus, the "need for further tightening of monetary policy”. He said although the committee considered the fact that high lending rates increase the cost of finance to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with its resultant adverse effect for growth and job creation, it nevertheless settled for tightening in the short term.

Commenting on the low deposit rates and its impact on savings, the CBN governor said: “We are dealing with a number of issues; the savings rates have been a source of concern to us but you must remember that up to this point, we have a central bank guarantee on the inter-bank market. Now, what that means is that frankly for most of the institutions, they are able to access inter-bank funds that are very short term when they need liquidity and still able to negotiate rates down because they have this guarantee that helps them to get liquidity.

“What I think is likely to happen is that from December 31, when the guarantee is removed, and banks begin to pose limits on exposure to counter-parties, because they are now taking counter party risk without great enhancement, you are going to see a lot of pressure for the banks to offer higher rates of interest on deposit liabilities, including savings.” He said he expected deposit rates to however, soar when the CBN guarantee ends and when banks have to depend more on third party deposits.

Sanusi said even though there had been four consecutive increases in MPR, credit to private sector had also improved. “Broad money (M2) grew by 8.55 per cent in the eight months to August 2011, which annualised to a growth rate of 12.82 per cent. Aggregate domestic credit (net) grew by 14.72 per cent in August 2011 when compared with the level in December 2010," he said. However, the CBN governor said the committee also noted that the current international developments posed substantial economic uncertainties, clouding the outlook for global growth and inflation.

He said there was a general expectation that there would be a slowdown in almost all advanced economies in the near future, raising fears of a second recession. On the domestic front, Sanusi said the MPC observed that inflationary pressures faced by the domestic economy had slightly moderated following the series of monetary policy tightening measures adopted by the apex bank, complemented by a favourable harvest.

But he added that although output growth remained robust, the current security challenges in the country could undermine investors' confidence and output in no distant time.

CBN raised MPR to 9.25% - Increased cost of borrowing from Commercial Banks
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Monday  raised the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) by 50 basis points to 9.25 per cent from its current level of 8.75 per cent.

Although the hike is unlikely to affect banks' capacity to lend, it would, however, increase the cost of borrowing from commercial banks. CBN Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who unveiled this in Communiqué No. 78 of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting in Abuja, said the decision to further tighten the monetary policy was borne out of concerns over the volatility in the international financial market.

He also hinged the apex bank’s action on what he called the continuing expansionary fiscal stance and high component of recurrent expenditure and the “deepening” debt crisis in the Eurozone. Sanusi said the Eurozone’s financial challenges and other intervening problems in the sector had led to fears of a second recession as well as liquidity surge expected from the intervention of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) in the recapitalisation of the remaining five rescued banks. He said the resolve to raise the MPR was supported by a majority of eight to three members.

According to him, while seven members voted for 50-basis-point increase in MPR from 8.75 to 9.25 per cent, only one member voted for a 100-basis-point raise in interest rate and three members favoured the retention of the MPR at the current rate. He said a unanimous decision was taken to maintain the current symmetric corridor of +/-200 basis points around the MPR and also retain the current CRR of 4.0 per cent. Sanusi said: “The announcement of a target of one per cent annual reduction in government recurrent spending when viewed in the context of the anticipated injections associated with the implementation of the new national minimum wage, suggests that the fiscal retrenchment is likely to be drawn out.

“In addition, there is the weight of structural factors such as the announced hike in electricity tariffs and the expected removal of petroleum subsidy.” He also said: “The AMCON injection of N3.0 trillion is going to add to liquidity surge with the attendant adverse impact on prices" thus, the "need for further tightening of monetary policy”. He said although the committee considered the fact that high lending rates increase the cost of finance to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with its resultant adverse effect for growth and job creation, it nevertheless settled for tightening in the short term.

Commenting on the low deposit rates and its impact on savings, the CBN governor said: “We are dealing with a number of issues; the savings rates have been a source of concern to us but you must remember that up to this point, we have a central bank guarantee on the inter-bank market. Now, what that means is that frankly for most of the institutions, they are able to access inter-bank funds that are very short term when they need liquidity and still able to negotiate rates down because they have this guarantee that helps them to get liquidity.

“What I think is likely to happen is that from December 31, when the guarantee is removed, and banks begin to pose limits on exposure to counter-parties, because they are now taking counter party risk without great enhancement, you are going to see a lot of pressure for the banks to offer higher rates of interest on deposit liabilities, including savings.” He said he expected deposit rates to however, soar when the CBN guarantee ends and when banks have to depend more on third party deposits.

Sanusi said even though there had been four consecutive increases in MPR, credit to private sector had also improved. “Broad money (M2) grew by 8.55 per cent in the eight months to August 2011, which annualised to a growth rate of 12.82 per cent. Aggregate domestic credit (net) grew by 14.72 per cent in August 2011 when compared with the level in December 2010," he said. However, the CBN governor said the committee also noted that the current international developments posed substantial economic uncertainties, clouding the outlook for global growth and inflation.

He said there was a general expectation that there would be a slowdown in almost all advanced economies in the near future, raising fears of a second recession. On the domestic front, Sanusi said the MPC observed that inflationary pressures faced by the domestic economy had slightly moderated following the series of monetary policy tightening measures adopted by the apex bank, complemented by a favourable harvest.

But he added that although output growth remained robust, the current security challenges in the country could undermine investors' confidence and output in no distant time.

To: Moderator

I noticed that whenever I posted career tips my profile is banned and the post removed. why?
(e.g: How to Apply for a Job When You're Overqualified - which I posted today and was deleted and several others)

Nigeria, Chad and Niger set to launch joint military operations against Boko Haram
The Federal Government is planning to launch joint military operations with countries in the Chad Basin as a solution to the armed insurgence of Boko Haram, the Islamic militant sect that has claimed responsibility for the serial bombings in the North.

Besides Nigeria, other countries in the Chad Basin are Chad, Niger and Cameroun. Intelligence reports in the past weeks have confirmed that members of the sect have training camps in the deserts of Chad and Niger Republic where they receive terrorism trainings from the dreaded al-Qaeda sect. Also, some of the Boko Haram suspects in police custody have been identified as nationals of Niger. Some of the soldiers for the joint military operations into the Sahara desert are currently part of the joint-task force in Maiduguri, where the Boko Haram sect has carried out most of their attacks.

A highly placed intelligence source said the Federal Government had approved the collaboration with both countries for effective intelligence gathering, adding that it was crucial in finding solution to the Boko Haram security menace. The source said, “You will recall that some members of the sect that are currently being tried are from the Niger Republic. While performing our own functions, we need the assistance of our neigbours to fight the menace.” According to him, the terms of operation of the joint military operations will soon be finalised.

A meeting of the Chief of Defence Staffs of the countries in the West African sub region had been called to deliberate on international terrorism and the worsening security situation in Nigeria, which climaxed in the bombing of the UN building in Abuja on August 26, 2011. The Director of Information at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja, Col. Mohammed Yerima, when contacted on the telephone, said the Chief of Defence Staff would address the press on the issue at the appropriate time. Yerima said, “The Chief of Defence Staff has the right to plan his operations and he will address the press at the appropriate time.

“The only thing I can tell you is that this thing involves all the agencies, which are collaborating to guarantee security in the society. The Customs, the Immigration, the SSS, every group must play its role effectively.” Apart from the huge regional attention given to upsurge of terrorist activities in Nigeria, the Military High Command had reached an agreement with the United Nations for a possible collaboration on the matter. Also, another intelligence source said that the State Security Service was making preparations to establish “a full directorate for border security in the country.” The source explained, “The SSS is increasing its activities at the nation’s borders. They are checking the borders to prevent questionable characters from moving into the country.

“Another thing is that they are deploying more operatives to the border; they are also working hand in hand with security agents from border countries. “Those working at the borders are under the Transport Control Unit; they are most likely to have a directorate for border patrol with all these developments. It has been on for some time now and with this development; they may come up with it.”

Earlier, the Minister of Information and Orientation, Mr. Labaran Maku, in an interview in Abuja, confirmed that a lot of security surveillance was going on with heavy deployment of troops in some of the hot areas. He confirmed that the FG was also paying attention to the Chad Basin in order to make sure that criminal activities did not happen at the borders. Maku spoke in a radio programme monitored by one of correspondents. He said, “A lot of attention is also being given to the Chad Basin countries — Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria — because there are a lot of cross-border activities in terms of crime.

“So the national security team led by the President is examining this whole region to ensure that countries that have borders in the Chad Basin take advantage of the current reality to beef up security and check cross-border movement between us and the movement of criminal activities between our boundaries.” He said the Federal Government had directed state governors to also make sure that they tackled security in their states and local government council levels. This, he said, was one of the resolutions reached at last week’s Council of State meeting, which was presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said it was not right to accuse the security agencies of laxity, adding that most of the crimes being witnessed now had been detected in the past. According to the minister, “Most of the time, our security agencies are on top of it, they give out information, give out warning as to crisis that will emanate. “But incapacity to take a quick political decision when it comes to tackling security threat has been the problem.”

Boko Haram denies killing Obasanjo’s host

Hours after a splinter group of the Jamaatu Ahlil Sunna Lidawati wal Jihad (J.A.S.L.J), aka Boko Haram was quoted on a BBC radio broadcast, claiming responsibility for the Saturday’s killing of their ex-leader’s brother in-law, Babakura Alhaji Fugu, another faction of the sect has denied responsibility.

The group described the death of Fugu, as painful and unfortunate, saying, they were not the ones responsible for his death as reported on the Hausa Service of the BBC. One of the group’s top members, Abu Kaka, shortly after the BBC report, said the claim in the media concerning his group was false. According to him, “We are not happy with the way we were being misquoted and misrepresented in the media … Today, we received with shock the unfortunate killing of the family member of our leader Sheik Muhammed Yusuf, but to our dismay we later on heard it on the BBC that we said we were responsible for it. This is unacceptable because the BBC cannot receive a text message (sent to their head office) without our name on it and ascribed it to us.”

US Hikers' release from Iran prison delayed again
The lawyer trying to get two American hikers freed from prison in Iran was not able to get a signature on bail paperwork because a judge is on vacation until Tuesday, he told CNN Sunday.

Bail has been paid for Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer, lawyer Masoud Shafiee said, but he needs the signatures of two judges to prove it. He went to a judge's office Sunday, when he was in court on a separate case, to see if he could get the second signature, but was told that the judge is on vacation until Tuesday and that Shafiee will have to return then, the lawyer said. Separately, a delegation of American Muslim and Christian leaders asked Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to release the hikers, his office said Sunday. The four leaders who met with him in Tehran included Nihad Awad, the executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a photo of the meeting showed.

The head of the human rights department of the Iranian judiciary, Mohammad Javad Larijani, linked the case of Fattal and Bauer to America's treatment of detainees. "If the U.S. is so sensitive about two of its spies and tries to free them, it should look at the way it treats other nationalities," he said in an interview Sunday with the semi-official Fars news agency. Fattal and Bauer have been held as spies for more than two years, after they apparently crossed an unmarked border between Iran and Iraq in July 2009. The two men and a third hiker, Sarah Shourd, were seized while hiking in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq.

Iranian authorities arrested them, claiming they were spies and had entered the country illegally. Shourd, who is Bauer's fiancee, was released last year for medical reasons, although authorities said her case remains open. Fattal and Bauer were convicted last month of spying and entering Iran illegally, and each was sentenced to eight years in prison.
Ahmadinejad recently said they could be freed, raising hopes that have been dashed and raised again several times since then. He said in an interview with NBC's "Today" show that they will be released on humanitarian grounds "in a couple of days."

But the judiciary shot back that only it could make decisions about their release. Shafiee then announced that all the paperwork had been filed for them to be freed on bail, but their release was delayed. He said he was "very hopeful" they would be released on Saturday, but the process is being held up by the lack of a judge's signature. Shafiee said he would not know for sure the amount of the bail or who paid it until he sees the signed document. Earlier reports put it at $500,000 for each American. An Omani official flew to Iran on Wednesday to help work on any negotiation, a Western diplomat told CNN at the time.

Oman helped secure the release of Shourd, posting her bail last September, a senior Obama administration official said at the time. Ahmadinejad is slated to travel to New York for the U.N. General Assembly on Monday, the semi-official Mehr News Agency reported. He is expected to give a speech and meet with several other presidents and Iranians living in the United States. But his visit is not linked to moves to release the Americans, said Larijani of the Iranian judiciary.

Large cache of arms intercepted in Abuja

What could have been a reign of terror on residents of Abuja by a gang of dare-devil armed robbers brandishing four AK 47 military assault rifles, one SMG rifle, and several bundles of poisonous bows and arrows, was, at the weekend, averted when soldiers attached to the 177 Guards Battalion of the Guards Brigade intercepted a Volkswagen Golf salon car carrying the weapons to the FCT from Nasarawa State.

Addressing newsmen on the arrests, Public Relations Officer of the Guards Brigade, Capt. Njideka Agwu, said: “At about 21:30 hours (9.30pm), on Thursday, troops from the 177 Battalion, Keffi, deployed to Gitata in Nasarawa State, recovered arms and ammunition from the suspected armed robbers”. It was learnt that the suspects, who had beaten several checkpoints along the way because they hid the weapons and ammunition inside the bonnet of the car, while security at the checkpoints were only interested in checking the booth, were stopped at Gitata junction by soldiers who searched the occupants, and also searched the booth of the car.

However, when the robbers realized that some of the soldiers were not satisfied and were moving towards the front of the car to open the bonnet, they ran into the bush resulting in some of the soldiers running after them. The soldiers apprehended the driver and two of the suspected robbers. After a thorough search of the vehicle marked BJ 574 NSR, four AK 47 rifles, one sub machine gun, five AK 47 magazines each capable of carrying 30 rounds of live ammunition, one SMG magazine, 280 rounds of 7. 62mm special and 27 rounds of SMG ammunition were recovered. Also recovered were several mobile police and regular police uniforms, United Nations Blue Berets (caps), assorted charms, GSM phones and a revolver. Some of the police uniforms recovered had such ranks as sergeants and corporals attached to them.

On interrogation by journalists, the suspects, who gave their names as Abdullahi Lawan, Abubakar Mohammed, Mohammed Ibrahim, disclosed that they hired the guns and ammunition from an alleged kingpin (one Iliya) who was traced to Kano and arrested by the Guards Brigade operatives. The suspects alleged that they usually went to Iliya’s place in Kano to hire the guns and ammunition to carry out robbery operations to return with the proceeds and share with the suspected kingpin. They confessed to have carried out several robbery operations in parts of the North.

Asked if the activities of the group may have links with Boko Haram or the killings in Jos, Njideka said it was not impossible but noted that the suspects only confessed they were coming into Abuja to perpetrate criminal activities. Commander, Guards Brigade, Brig-General EJ Atewe, earlier called for understanding from Nigerians over the inconveniences caused by several checkpoints as a result of the security situation facing the country, pointing out that the checks were always carried out based on intelligence reports. Atewe said that if the soldiers that carried out the arrest were not very diligent, the hoodlums would have found their way into Abuja and “only God knows the mayhem they would have caused with such cache of arms.

“However, a combined team of 177 Guards Battalion Provost Company and 90 Intelligence detachment are combing suspected hideouts of the gang in Giyina with a view to apprehending other members of the gang”.

President Goodluck Jonathan restores one-year overseas training for medical doctors

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday restored one-year compulsory foreign residency training for doctors with a view towards increasing the quality of Nigerian doctors and stopping the outward flow of Nigerian medical tourists.

The new initiative was disclosed by the President during the 29th annual congress and convocation of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria at Ijanikin, Lagos. The President was represented by the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu at a ceremony that was graced by stakeholders in the health sector, including  President of the College, Prof. L. I D Kufeji, Chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Lagos Dr. Yewande Jinadu among others.

Expressing concern at the frequent resort to strike action by resident doctors, he charged the fellows of the college to urgently address the indiscipline in residency training currently in the country, saying it is unacceptable to the Federal Government. “We want you to ensure that patients do not suffer because of negligence. Nigerian doctors are respected all over the world and we don’t expect less here in Nigeria. Nigerian doctors are now fast losing their respect due to incessant industrial action. We intend to check this and the menace of brain drain”.

Fresh details have emerged on the case filed against Asiwaju Bola Tinubu by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) for allegedly operating foreign accounts while serving as Governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007.

Last week, CCB charged Tinubu before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), alleging that he operated and maintained 10 foreign accounts in the United States of America and United Kingdom while in office. The total amount in the accounts, most of which are domiciled with HSBC in London, is a little over £30,000 (about N7.5 million). His own accounts contained £21,995, while the one he jointly operated with his wife had a balance of about £10,000.

The Fifth Schedule Part I (3) of the 1999 Constitution (as Amended) says: “The President, Vice-President, Governor, Deputy Governor, Ministers of the Government of the Federation and Commissioners of the Governments of the States, members of the National Assembly and of the Houses of Assembly of the States, and such other public officers or persons as the National Assembly may by law prescribe shall not maintain or operate a bank account in any country outside Nigeria.”

Sources in the know said Tinubu did not “operate” or “maintain” the accounts and would argue that he had not contravened any law. “Technically, even though he might not have officially closed the accounts when he was governor, he neither maintained nor operated them. The intention of the framers of the law was to prevent money laundering through operation of foreign accounts. If there is no deposit on an account, it cannot be said to be in operation. More importantly, the Bureau is not saying Tinubu used the accounts to perpetrate any crime, such as money laundering and fraud,” the source said. He argued that the CCB case was “purely political” judging by the failure of the body to disclose the actual amount involved, thereby creating the impression that some serious crime had been committed.

“CCB deliberately kept quiet on the necessary details because it would sound ridiculous to tell the world that the Federal Government would be wasting so much of tax payers’ money on a case that has no meaning,” he added. Some of the accounts being cited by the Bureau actually belong to Tinubu’s children with varying balances of between £700 and £1000. “Anyone who reads the story would think Tinubu has been accused of stealing money or laundering billions of naira when, in fact, only £31,000 is in the accounts. Instructively, no fresh deposit was made between 1999 and 2007 when he was governor. CCB can never argue that the accounts were used to siphon money or perpetuate any financial or economic crime. “It is all the more curious that the Bureau would want to try Tinubu over accounts that do not belong to him. How can you charge him using his children’s accounts as evidence, accounts that were opened long before he became a governor? Does the Code of Conduct say children of public officers who are abroad should close their foreign accounts too?” he asked.

Tinubu’s associates, maintained that the case, which had been brought up in the past, was “well timed” ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in Kogi State as well as four other states of the federation. “The PDP government is very much aware of the role Tinubu, as the National Leader of the biggest opposition party in the country (Action Congress of Nigeria), is playing in the electoral humiliation the ruling party has been receiving in many states. The strategy is to strike the shepherd so that the sheep will scatter. This is all about the forthcoming elections. Let’s see how far the PDP can go,” he said. It is also believed in Tinubu’s camp that with ACN now the dominant party in the South-west and with the role the party played in defeating the South-west Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the speakership of the House of Representatives, “it was just a matter of time before the PDP would come after him”.

An official of CCB dismissed the political undertone being alleged, maintaining that there was no witch-hunting involved. He said: “The Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap 56 LFN, 1990, prohibits public officials from operating foreign accounts. For the avoidance of doubt, the law says if you had the accounts before occupying a public office, you have to close them down. There is nothing political about that.” The tribunal has summoned Tinubu to appear before it on Wednesday next week.

Tinubu, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, was first charged before the tribunal on 24th April, 2007. The trial was, however, stalled for reasons not made public but believed to be political. He was said to have failed to declare the foreign bank accounts in the assets declaration form CCB-1 which he submitted to the CCB when he was elected governor.

6.1 quake strikes Alaska's Aleutian chain
A 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck on Wednesday off the western end of Alaska's Aleutian Islands chain, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

The quake occurred shortly after 9 a.m. local time about 21 miles northwest of Attu, the farthest U.S.-owned island in the Aleutians and the western-most point of the United States. No tsunami warnings were issued in connection with the tremor. At nearly 1,000 miles west of the Alaska mainland, Attu is situated so far west in the Pacific relative to North America that it lies in the Eastern Hemisphere.

Attu, scene of the only land battle fought on U.S. territory during World War Two, also was the site of a U.S. Coast Guard station for decades, until the facility closed last year. The island is currently uninhabited. Earthquakes of that magnitude are relative common in the seismically active Aleutian chain, but they pose little or no threat since they are so far from densely populated areas.

Nelson Mandela is alive and well; Winnie Mandela hospitalised
Former South African President Nelson Mandela is alive and well despite rumours on social media sites on Tuesday that he has died, state-owned broadcaster SABC reported.

SABC cited the Nelson Mandela Foundation as denying the rumours on micro-blogging site Twitter. Mandela, 93, South Africa's first black president who is revered at home and abroad as a symbol of reconciliation and hope, was hospitalised in January after suffering an acute respiratory infection. Since then Mandela has recovered and he is currently in his home village of Qunu in South Africa's Eastern Cape province. Mandela was diagnosed with tuberculosis in the 1980s while he was jailed and later had an operation to repair damage to his eyes. In 2001 he had treatment for prostate cancer. He was released from prison in 1990 after 27 years imprisonment.

But, the wife of former South African president, Nelson Mandela, Winnie, 76, has been hospitalised over an ankle injury. According to South African National Congress (ANC), Winnie complained of ankle pain on Saturday and she was taken to the hospital after which she undergone a minor foot operation. The South Africa’s ruling party said “the surgery was successful and she is recuperating.” According to ANC, “Madikizela-Mandela, ex-wife of Nelson Mandela, went to a Johannesburg hospital Saturday complaining of ankle pain.” Winnie and Nelson Mandela divorced in 1996, but in recent years, she had joined Mandela at family events alongside his current wife, Graca Machel.

Why security may never improve in Nigeria – Sabella Ogbobode Abidde
Since the 1970s at least, security has been tenuous and perilous in Nigeria: periods when armed-robbers, street urchins, kidnappers and vigilante groups reigned supreme.

One does not have access to dependable data; nonetheless, it might be possible to deduce that insecurity spikes in times of prolonged economic and political downturns. It seems, then, that poverty and volatility breed insecurity. In recent times, however, insecurity seems to have taken a new form: commercial kidnappings, political assassinations, and bombings.

Bombing, as we know it today may have started during the General Ibrahim Babangida administration. During this period (October 1986), Mr. Dele Giwa, the most prominent Nigerian journalist in recent memory, was eliminated with a parcel bomb in his home in Lagos. In the intervening years, more than three dozen bombs have gone off – killing and maiming untold number of Nigerians. And just as the death of Mr. Giwa has remained unsolved, so have the killing and maiming of many Nigerians. Twenty four years after that infamous bombing, the world awoke to what is now known as the Independence Day Bombing. And barely a year after the Independence Day Bombing, the United Nations’ building in Abuja suffered the same fate.

In addition to the incessant bombings, the country has also had to deal with other types of violence, i.e. the post-election violence and the unmitigated ethnic, religious and communal violence. All these events -- which have largely remained unsolved -- were becoming an embarrassment to the Goodluck Jonathan led government. More than the embarrassment to Jonathan, Nigerians, at home and abroad, were beginning to think that President Jonathan is in a daze (in so far as the bombings are concerned). How do you bring order and stability to a country were insecurity, anxiety, and anarchy was fast becoming part of the landscape?

On August 31, 2011, the Punch newspaper reported that “The heads of all the nation's security agencies are in panic mode,” and that “the security chiefs were reprimanded by President Goodluck Jonathan for their inability to stem the growing wave of bombings in the country.” And on September 8, Reuters and other media organizations reported that Ambassador Zakari Ibrahim, the special adviser on counter-terrorism, was sacked.

Frankly, unless the president wants a communist or police-state, there is a zero-zero chance of security ever improving in the country. The most viable alternative is the restructuring – not just of the intelligence and security agencies – but also of the administrative and governing system we now have. Nigeria, as we know it today, will continue to wobble until a leader, or leaders at the national level, agrees to and genuinely implement a restructuring of the system and the country.

The President’s anger, embarrassment and loss of face may be well-placed. The everyday Nigerian may be running out of patience and empathy. And indeed, the international community may be wondering why the Nigerian government cannot get its act together. None of these will matter; and indeed, nothing else will truly matter or make a dent on the state of insecurity if the fundamentals of security and nationhood are not properly addressed. And even if the Nigerian government and her international partners pour financial and non-financial resources at the Nigerian security landscape, it still wouldn’t matter. The right things should be done. Not the easy stuff, but the right things!

The President may think otherwise, but really, the problem, for the most part, is not the personnel who are currently manning the various security and intelligence outfits. The three service chiefs, the inspector general of police, the Director- General of the State Security Service and the National Security Adviser are all competent men who are capable of the tasks they are assigned. These are very competent men. What’s more, the foot soldiers -- the men and women of the various agencies who are tasked with our safety and security -- are, for the most part, doing what they have been asked to do. The problems, it seems to me, are (1) our national culture and attitude towards the nation-state; (2) the current domestic security structure; (3) the current national security paradigm; (4) the self-immolating governing system that is in place; (5) the inadequate constitution that currently guides us; and (6) our weak and fragmenting institutions.

To the aforelisted we add funding, compensation, and training for the men and women who work for the police and other security agencies. They are starved of fund. For instance, to say that the police are grossly underfunded, underpaid, poorly trained and poorly equipped, is an understatement. Time after time, the police are outmanned, outgunned, and outmaneuvered. The police academies are poorly equipped; and so are the forensic labs. These and other factors accounts for why the Nigerian Police have been behind the times and unable to make the desire dent in matters of state and personal security.

But beyond all these factors -- factors that are beyond the control and/or dictates of the security and intelligence chiefs and agencies -- are issues that are directly and obliquely related to nationhood, governance, and leadership. And of course, we may add a fourth: followership. In its fifty years as a nation, has Nigeria ever, at any point, taken a critical look at itself? In other words, have we ever addressed our nationhood? Have we ever wondered why we seem to produce third-rate leaders? And why is it that the everyday Nigerian seems not to care about their country and about the quality of leaders they’ve had in the last 30 or so years? These are some of the questions a well-planned national symposium would address.

But of course, in today’s Nigeria -- more so within the halls of the federal government, the Fourth Estate, the ruling elites, and within the circle of certain powerhouses -- it is forbidden to speak of or to advocate a Sovereign National Conference. SNC is the elephant in our collective living room no one wants to address. It is as if calling for a SNC is tantamount to advocating the breakup of Nigeria. It is as if supporting a SNC means supporting a coup. Advocates of a Sovereign National Conference, in some enclaves, are now seen as enemies of the state. But it need not be so. The wellbeing of our fatherland is at stake. The mutual hate and mutual suspicion that is being exhibited in some quarters demand that we engage in a healthy conversation. The unhealthy quest for power demands that we examine our political arena and the rules that govern it.

None of these, none of the above, are the handiwork of the service and intelligence chiefs. Therefore, even if President Goodluck Jonathan were to replace these men -- the state of insecurity will remain the same. Why would the president want to replace a group of fine and brilliant men who continue to sacrifice their comfort for the wellbeing of their country? He may bring in the MOSSAD, the FBI/CIA, or the M15/M16 or any number of foreign intelligence outfit, it really wouldn’t matter. Frankly, security will never improve so long as we continue in our current pattern of thinking and being. Nothing will change for the best if we are afraid of new and bold thinking. Archaic and dated solutions will not do us any good. This president must be bold and daring in his thinking. His advisers too must refine their thinking and their intellect (ditto for the Nigerian Congress).

Something else: any nation that does not pay particular attention and then genuinely tackle issues of basic needs (human security), is very likely to have its internal and non-internal security abridge and violated. Basic Needs or Human Security basically refers to the availability and the unhindered access to quality education, quality health care, portable water and nutritious food, personal safety, human rights, healthy ecology, and an enabling setting where the vast majority of the citizens can aspire to a life of happiness and wellbeing. If you don’t have these, then, nothing else matters.

No nation, be it’s a police state or a communist country, can thrive in an atmosphere of want, superstition, searing poverty, and preliterate conditions. And that’s the Nigeria we have today. Do you blame these deficits on the service and security chiefs? Is the National Security Adviser to blame for these? The current political and economic stench and insecurity seem daunting and overwhelming, but no reasonable Nigerian would put the blame squarely and entirely on President Goodluck Jonathan. Successive governments contributed, in various degrees, to the current condition. Nonetheless, things seem to be worsening under his watch. He is the man most points to. It behooves him, therefore, to reposition the country.

Even in industrialized societies, there is some modicum of insecurity: insecurity is not a phenomenon that can be totally and completely eradicated. It can be mitigated and improved. This is the goal we should individually and collectively work towards. To reach this goal, however, we must start the journey now. We must rebuild our country, rebuild our institutions, and rework our constitution.

For those who are interested in a stopgap measure, perhaps, some or all of these steps may be considered: without regard to their past or current standing the government must arrest and prosecute private and public individuals who fan the ember of religious and ethnic hate; infiltrate and collect intelligence on groups bent on calamity, hate and destruction; fund social services for persons and groups of persons that are susceptible to the teachings and allure of certain non-state actors; provide targeted employment or retraining programs for youths across the country; and invest in educational institutions. What’s more, concerned persons must be willing to alert the security and intelligence agencies if and when they witness laws being violated or about to be violated. Nigeria is our country – a country to be reclaimed

Poverty rate rises in America
Amid a still struggling economy, more people in America fell below the poverty line last year, according to new census data released Tuesday. The nation's poverty rate rose to 15.1% in 2010, its highest level since 1993. In 2009, 14.3% of people in America were living in poverty.

"The results are not surprising given the economy," said Paul Osterman, author of "Good Jobs America," and a labor economist at MIT. "You would expect with so many people unemployed, the poverty rate would go up. It's just another sign of what a difficult time this is for so many people." About 46.2 million people are now considered in poverty, 2.6 million more than last year. The government defines the poverty line as income of $22,314 a year for a family of four and $11,139 for an individual. The Office of Management and Budget updates the poverty line each year to account for inflation.

Middle-class wealth falls: For middle-class families, income fell in 2010. The median household income was $49,445, down slightly from $49,777 the year before. Median income has changed very little over the last 30 years. Adjusted for inflation, the middle-income family only earned 11% more in 2010 than they did in 1980, while the richest 5% in America saw their incomes surge 42%.

"Over that period of time, it's not that the American economy has necessarily performed badly," Osterman said. "As a country we're richer over that period, but there's been this real shift in where the income has gone, and it's to the top." Amplifying that trend, the bottom 60% of households saw their income fall last year, while households making $100,000 or more enjoyed a rise in income.

More children in poverty: The poverty rate for children under age 18 increased to 22% in 2010, meaning more than 1 in 5 children in America are living in poverty. Meanwhile, the poverty rate for adults ages 18 to 64 rose to 13.7%. For people 65 and older, the poverty rate was barely changed at 9%. Following the recession, fewer young adults are moving out of their parents' homes. Last year, 5.9 million young adults age 25 to 34 still lived with their folks, compared with 4.7 million before the recession.

Race and gender factors: By race, the poverty rate was lowest for non-Hispanic whites at 9.9%. Blacks had the highest rate at 27.4%, followed by people of Hispanic origin at 26.6%. Asians had a poverty rate of 12.1%. About 14% of men were below the poverty line, compared to 16.2% of women. Families headed by a married couple had only a 6.2% poverty rate, whereas families with a single mother had a 31.6% rate, and families with a single father had a 15.8% rate.

South hit the hardest: For the fifth year in a row, Mississippi households were the poorest in the country, this time with a median income of $37,985. New Hampshire households had the highest median income, at $66,707. Among different regions of the country, the South had the highest poverty rate at 16.9%, while the Northeast had the lowest rate at 12.8%. The poverty rate was 13.9% in the Midwest and 15.3% in the West.

The income used to calculate poverty status includes earnings, workman's compensation, unemployment insurance, Social Security, veteran's payments, pensions, interest and dividends, and just about every other source of cash. It does not, however, include capital gains, so, theoretically, millionaires could qualify as poor if they lived solely by selling off investments. Non-cash benefits, such as food stamps or subsidized rents, also do not count as income.

More people are uninsured: The census report also contained data on health insurance, showing people lacking medical benefits climbed to 49.9 million last year, up from 49 million in 2009. Overall, about 16.3% of people in America were uninsured in 2010, statistically unchanged from 2009.

President Goodluck Jonathan dissolves NDDC Board
President Goodluck Jonathan has dissolved the Board of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). This was contained in a terse press statement issued ,Tuesday, by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.

According to Anyim, the President also directed the Managing Director and other members of the Executive of the Commission to hand over all the commission’s property in their possession to the Director of Administration and Human Resources, Mrs Osaro Areyenka with immediate effect. The statement read as follows: “Following the conclusion of the assignment of the Presidential Committee to look into the problems facing the NDDC and subsequent submission of the report of the Committee, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR, after due consideration of the report has approved the dissolution of the Board of NDDC with effect from today 13th September, 2011.

A new Board for the Commission would be reconstituted soon. The Managing Director and other Executive members are to hand over all commission’s items in their custody to the Director of Administration and Human Resources, Mrs Osato Areyenka”.

Federal Government launched plan to reconstruct and computerise 84 border posts

To arrest the worsening state of insecurity and curtail the activities of the Islamic terrorist group, Boko Haram, the Federal Government has launched a plan to reconstruct and computerise 84 border posts.

The Minister of Interior, Mr. Abba Moro, who disclosed this in Abuja on Friday, also said that government would initiate a review of the Economic Community of West African States’ protocol on movement. The protocol allows citizens of ECOWAS countries to move freely across member states. Moro said, “Plans are at an advanced level for the Ministry of Interior and the Immigration Service to work in conjunction with the National Boundaries Commission, to identify all our boundaries.

“At the moment, we are aware of 84 border posts in Nigeria. Of course, we have numerous others that are rather irregular. People who perpetrate the acts that are inimical to national security are people who cross to Nigeria through these irregular entry points. “So, we are trying now to confirm the borders and, as I am talking to you, we have held discussions with foreign organisations and firms who have agreed to install what they call layered surveillance along our borders. “This layered surveillance has the capacity to detect and identify people who enter Nigeria illegally and people who carry equipment that can compromise our internal security.

“By the time we put this plan in place, it will have a central control, so that even right here in Abuja, you can know what is happening at our borders in Maiduguri, Sokoto or Lagos.” One of the recommendations of the Federal Government Committee on Security Challenges in the North-East set up to proffer solutions to the Boko Haram menace is the mass deportation of illegal aliens. The committee says its findings show that illegal aliens from Niger Republic, Chad, Benin Republic, Somalia and other neighbouring countries are swelling the rank of the violent Islamic sect.

Our correspondent learnt that members of the committee concluded that similarities in the culture of the illegal aliens and some ethnic groups in the North helped the aliens to move around the country and integrate in communities. The minister also expressed a similar opinion. He said, “The ECOWAS protocol provides for a relaxed requirement for entering into the country, but today, we have discovered that that protocol is being abused. “We have also discovered that most of the syndicates that perpetrate fraud and, recently, those involved in suicide bombings are nationals of these other countries that you have mentioned.

“So, what government has put in place is a stricter measure for entering Nigeria. I can tell you that we have had reasons to stop large numbers of nationals of other countries at various points of entry. “As recent as last week, a truckload of about 150 Nigeriens heading for Nigeria was turned back at the borders. Only recently too, a joint taskforce of the Army, the Police, the State Security Service, the Nigeria Intelligence Agency, the and Immigration Service, swooped on the hideout of a syndicate in Lagos, and those that were arrested and identified as foreigners have been repatriated.”

The minister also said that the Federal Government had started addressing the challenge posed by the absence of necessary data on Nigerians and non-Nigerians. As a result, he said, plans were underway to establish “a central data for Nigerians and foreigners visiting the country for genuine business activities and even illegal aliens involved in inappropriate business.” The minister explained that the central data base would make it easier to separate people who came to the country for genuine business from those who did not, stressing that the latter category would be blacklisted as threat to national security.

Ecobank Gets N290bn Forbearance on Oceanic Acquisition

As stakeholders of Oceanic Bank International Plc intensify efforts to get approval for the acquisition of their bank by Ecobank Transnational Incorporated. ETI secured a forbearance of N290 billion from the Asset Management Company of Nigeria under the deal to takeover Oceanic Bank.

The forbearance is being granted by AMCON to all prospective investors acquiring the rescued banks in their bid to recapitalise the banks. It will see AMCON wiping out outstanding legacy non-performing loans on the books of the banks and bringing their capital base to zero. A banking industry source privy to the transaction told this newspaper last week that although financial advisers who conducted the due diligence of Oceanic Bank on behalf of  Ecobank had recommended a N390 billion forbearance, ETI, the parent company of Ecobank Nigeria Plc, eventually settled for N290 billion when it revised its bid for Oceanic Bank.

The financial advisers and Oceanic Bank had established a reserve price of N45 billion for the rescued bank, but Ecobank offered to pay N47 billion for 40.17 percent of Oceanic Bank's shares and had initially settled for a forbearance of N390 billion. But Ecobank was said to have changed its mind when it realised that Diamond Bank Plc which was also interested in acquiring Oceanic Bank had offered an amount that almost matched its bid for the rescued bank. In order to knock Diamond Bank out of contention, Ecobank revised its offer for Oceanic Bank to N55 billion and settled for a forbearance of N290 billion.

The N290 billion, which was considered to be a huge amount to write off by market analysts, raised eyebrows as most, in their assessment, concluded that Ecobank might be paying too much for Oceanic Bank. However, market analysts said they were not surprised by the high offer, considering the fact that Ecobank had never concealed its desire to increase its footprint in the Nigerian market through a merger or acquisition of a larger financial institution.

After the banking consolidation programme in 2005, Ecobank and First Bank of Nigeria Plc held merger talks for almost two years but could not agree on pricing, among other issues, which prompted both sides to jettison the merger.  ETI had in a statement explained that the acquisition of Oceanic Bank would transform the bank as one of the leading banks in the country. “The transaction envisions that Oceanic Bank will be merged with Ecobank Nigeria to create a strongly capitalised bank, well positioned to become a leading Nigerian bank, providing services to a large number of corporate, public sector and retail customers across Nigeria,” the statement quoting the managing director of Ecobank, Mr. Jibril Aku said.

Aku said the transaction will give Ecobank and the banking unit of Oceanic Bank some scale in the country. He added that the size of the balance sheet of the two entities and the size of the branch network will help drive the ambition. He said: “We believe that it will be like a household bank in Nigeria. We see that as an opportunity to deliver on the vision of the bank, which is to deliver a world class African bank where we deliver world class services. “So we think that we are on the way there and this transaction puts us on the right track to achieve scale in Nigeria.”

Oceanic Bank was among eight lenders whose chief executives were fired by the CBN in 2009 after a lending crisis threatened to collapse some of the nation's financial institutions. The central bank bailed out the lenders with N620 billion and pushed for the establishment of AMCON, through the enabling legislation, to buy the non-performing loans of the banks to enable them to clean up their balance sheets and resume lending. It gave the banks a September 30 deadline this year to recapitalise or face liquidation or nationalisation.

World's first commercial spaceport is now 90% completed - in time for first flights in 2013

Spaceport America - world's first purpose-built commercial spaceport
Phase one of the world's first commercial spaceport, which will be the hub for Virgin's consumer spaceflights, is now 90 per cent complete.

The 1,800-acre Spaceport America site, in Las Cruces, New Mexico, is the home base for Virgin Galactic, Richard Branson's most ambitious business venture yet. It already boasts a runway stretching to nearly two miles long, a futuristic styled terminal hanger, and a dome-shaped Space Operations Centre. The work is now just months away from completion, according to a spaceport spokesman, and is set to be done by the end of the year, well in time for the first expected Virgin Galactic spaceflights in 2013.

Christine Anderson, the newly appointed executive director of the New Mexico Spaceport Authority, told SPACE.com she was 'jazzed' about the progress made so far. 'When you think about what a feat that is, to build all that anywhere, but then to build it in the middle of the high desert in New Mexico — that’s a small city that was built,' she said. 'So hats off to all the contractors and architects and everybody else that spent a lot of time and sweat equity in its development.'

But Ms Anderson has already met challenges. No sooner had she started in her new job, the New Mexico legislature slashed the spaceport office budget by more than half. And there is no firm date yet for Spaceport America to begin operations. Virgin Galactic's WhiteKnightTwo/SpaceShipTwo launch system is still in testing and she says it is up to them when they decide it is safe to fly tourists to the edge of space. At a best guess, flights could begin in the first quarter of 2013.

Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo on its maiden flight from the Mojave Air and Spaceport in Mojave, California

Construction of phase two has already begun and is set for completion in time for Virgin Galactic's pioneering flights. It will include the completion of the Vertical Launch Complex facility, two visitor centres in nearby towns and a further visitor centre on the main spaceport site.

Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic through to U.S. Open final again

The world's top two players, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, will face each other in the U.S. Open final -- in a repeat of last year's Flushing Meadows showdown won by the Spaniard in four sets.

World number one Djokovic, who has only lost twice this year -- winning both the Australian Open and Wimbledon along the way -- produced a stunning against-the-odds comeback to defeat five-time champion Roger Federer 6-7 (7-9) 4-6 6-3 6-2 7-5. And he will play defending champion Nadal in the final, after the second seed wore down British fourth seed Andy Murray 6-4 6-2 3-6 6-2. One of Djokovic's defeats this year came against Federer in the French Open last four, and the Serb looked to be heading for the exit against the five-time New York champion once again, as he lost the first two sets.

But Djokovic dug deep to win the next three sets, saving two match points in the fifth set in the process. "It was definitely the biggest win this year," an ecstatic Djokovic said on court immediately following his victory. "One of the biggest wins of my career." But Djokovic looked shell-shocked after Federer had raced in to a two set lead. After succumbing to a first set tie breaker at a partisan Flushing Meadows, Federer broke Djokovic twice in the second.

With the crowd behind Federer, Djokovic cut a dejected figure going into the third but an early break put the pressure on the Swiss. Suddenly Djokovic was reborn and he quickly leveled the match two sets all. Yet his comeback appeared to be in vain. Federer made a crucial break at 4-3 in the final set, and with two match points at 40-15 it looked like the Swiss would be competing in the final. The turning point was an incredible return from Djokovic to save match point. The Serb went on to break back and, more importantly, win over the partisan crowd with his display of sheer determination.

The psychological ball was now in Djokovic's court, who saw out the last four games to snatch an unlikely win. Such was the turn around in fortunes with the spectators he even made time to dance with the crowd at the end. Djokovic has never won the U.S. Open, losing to both Federer and Nadal in his two previous final appearances. However, he has beaten Nadal every time the two have faced each other this season, including the final of Wimbledon, and will be confident of overturning his defeat here to the Spaniard in 2010.
Nadal, who will be playing in his 14th grand slam final, will have crowd support on his side in Monday's final.

He said: "I have played Novak five times this year, all in finals, and lost them all. I hope to have better luck this time and I hope New York will help me." Murray, who appeared to be troubled by a back complaint in the final set, committed 55 unforced errors to Nadal's 23, and his defeat means he is still waiting for a grand slam title despite reaching the semifinals of all four major events in 2011.

^^^spot on; why now? something is surely fishy!

Florida Nightclub Shooting - 2 killed, 22 injured!

At least two gunmen armed with possible semi-automatic weapons opened fire outside a Florida nightclub early Saturday morning, killing two people and injuring 22, according to police.

A witness described panic and chaos inside the Club Elite in the town of Palmetto south of Tampa. "I was on the floor trying not to die," said Chip "Blu Chip" Hunt, a promoter who works with the club management. "I was between one who got shot in the back of the head and one that got killed and one gentleman that got Bayflighted (airlifted) out."


Killed were Gwenette Matthews, 38, of Bradenton, and Trayon Goff, 25, of Palmetto, according to Palmetto police spokesman Scott Tyler. Tyler said the shooters were outside the club, but some bullets passed through the nightclub's open front door. Police believe at least one of the shooters was on foot and disappeared in a getaway car. Hunt, who promoted the club's Friday night "Grown & Sexy" event, said Matthew was socializing inside the club with her sister and was killed by a bullet that came through the front door. Hunt said the torrent of bullets seemed to be aimed at Goff who was outside, sitting up against the front wall of the building.

"The wall is like Swiss cheese," said Hunt. "He had so many wounds it was crazy. He got 75 percent of the shots. That's the one they was after." Hunt estimated 150 people were inside the club. Hunt said a security guard, who he said was hit in the back by one bullet, made sure every patron was at least 25 years old and dressed up for the special event. Hunt said Goff was in a group of younger people who had gathered outside the club. Of those, "he was the only one that got shot (critically). I don't know if he tried to run and that's why the bullets came inside the club," Hunt said.

Tyler said investigators have not yet named suspects or identified a target or motive. Tyler said most victims were treated and released. Six people were flown to a trauma center in St. Petersburg and one remains in very critical condition, he said.

Source: Reuters