Nigerians, Other Africans Rescued by Italian Navy

Nigerian immigrants, whose identities were not immediately known, were among 233 African immigrants who were rescued from a boat in Mediterranean waters, South of Sicily, by the Italian Navy.

Several Africans believed to be fleeing harsh economic conditions in their home countries have often resorted to crossing into parts of Europe using unofficial channels. Many of them have died in what is described as  “the immigration crisis” mainly by African countries.

Many have either died crossing the deserts or drowned crossing the sea in Morocco into Spain. Some others simply get attacked by either wild animals or highway marauders.
In a statement, the Italian navy said that it picked the immigrants up in choppy seas late on Wednesday and was ferrying them yesterday to a port near Syracuse on Sicily's eastern coast.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), It said that migrants on board were men and women from Eritrea, Nigeria, Somalia, Zambia and Mali as well as from Pakistan.

The statement further noted that sea arrivals to Italy from Northern Africa were more than tripled in 2013, fuelled by refugees from Syria's civil war and political strife in the Horn of Africa.

In October, 366 Eritreans drowned in a shipwreck near the shore of the Italian island of Lampedusa.

Several Nigerians desperate to land Europe, believing falsely that their social fortunes will improve on getting to any of the European countries, have often taken desperate and illegal steps to emigrate out of the  country.

Toolz Has A Message For Ladies Who Depends On Their Guys

Sixty percent of ladies depend on their lovers for financial needs, some even say it is there right, while some base it on a give and take affair; not many Guys like women bugging them with financial needs, but many women do not know this fact.

Popular artiste Toolz took to her twitter handle to advice ladies on this issues and I hope ladies would read and digest this

Doctors’ Strike: Jonathan Agrees To Appoint Nigeria’s First Ever Surgeon-General

NMA PRESIDENT, DR. OSAHON ENABULELE & PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JOANTHAN

President Goodluck Jonathan may have saved Nigerians from having to experience another agonizing round of strike action by doctors in public hospitals as he has acceded to demands by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to appoint a surgeon-general of the federation. He has also reportedly agreed to the association’s demand that the call duty allowance of doctors running into billions of naira be sorted out and paid to them.

These major decisions are sequel to the fourth meeting convened by the president on Thursday to avert an indefinite strike earlier slated for January 6 were some of the major decisions taken at the fourth meeting convened by the president yesterday to avert a strike billed to begin on January 6.

The NMA embarked on a five-day nationwide warning strike before Christmas and threatened to embark on a mother of all strikes on the said date should the federal government refuse to meet their demands.

A source privy to details of the meeting held inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja, hinted State House correspondents that the federal government bowed completely to the demand of the NMA for the appointment of a surgeon-general of the federation from among medical doctors in the country to take charge of public health.

“The government has taken a decision to appoint a surgeon-general of the federation who will be a medical doctor and will be responsible for public health. That appointment will be announced soon”, the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity said.

Consequently, the source said President Jonathan has directed the Ministry of Health to work closely with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Trade and Investment in consulting with medical practitioners with a view to supporting private investors to build state-of-the-art hospitals in the country.

He further noted that the move is aimed at promoting local potential to strengthen the sector and improve fiscal policy on medical equipment and to check the growth of medical tourism.

The president, he added, has also directed that, from now on, before any government official would be allowed to seek medical treatment overseas, government must first be satisfied that no such medical services exist in Nigeria.

Jonathan, the source further revealed, has also agreed to focus more attention on the National Health Insurance Scheme with a view to making it more productive, even as he has also directed the NMA to make their representation to the Nigeria Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, as requested by the association.

On the doctors’ request for the inclusion of their representatives in the proposed national dialogue, the government was said to have observed that there was no way a conference of such magnitude would hold without the representatives of trade unions.

The government has since met another demand by the NMA by re-constituting the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.

Yesterday’s meeting was attended by the Vice President Namadi Sambo, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, minister of labour Chief Emeka Wogu, minister of health Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu,  director-general of the Budget Office Dr Bright Okogu, and chairman of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission Chief Richard Egbule.

Shortly after the meeting, Governor Uduaghan confirmed that President Jonathan had already consented to the demands of the medical workers at a stakeholders’ meeting he convened to ensure that the planned strike was averted.

The governor disclosed that he was proceeding to another meeting with leaders of the NMA billed for 5pm yesterday even as he expressed optimism that at the end of the meeting, all the grey areas would have been resolved.

He said: “There are issues that have been raised by the Nigerian Medical Association for which they have threatened to strike. They had a warning strike for about five days, so the president called a stakeholders’ meeting to look at the issues. We are going for a meeting now at 5pm with the NMA; at least, there are some things the president has consented to and I believe, by the time we finish the meeting this evening, there will be some resolutions.

“Our determination is to ensure that that strike of January 6 is averted. Of course, we cannot afford another strike in the medical sector. One minute of strike in the health sector by whatever body can be very disastrous.”

The governor also stated that the incidence of oil theft in the country has reduced abysmally from between 100,000 and 80,000 barrels stolen a day to 40,000 barrels per day.

“Let me emphasise that the volume of crude oil theft is reducing. Again, I must explain that, at a time, oil theft was at its peak; there was a shutdown of about 300,000 barrels of oil as a result of damage to two major pipelines and, at that time, between 80,000 and 100,000 barrels were being stolen. That was the time we took some measures to ensure that the quantity that was being stolen was reduced.

“Today, I can tell you that the crude that is being stolen has reduced to about 40,000 barrels per day. Those two pipelines are now functioning. So the 300,000 that was shut down as a result of the damage to the pipelines have now been opened. Stealing 40,000 barrels per day is still on the high side, but, as we go further in putting a lot of measures in place, especially in areas of prosecution, I believe that the quantity that is being stolen will gradually reduce, if possible bring it to zero level. Apart from prosecution, we are also talking of technology and monitoring to deal with the oil theft”, he said.

Ahead of Kerry's visit for peace talks, Israeli official says Israel must keep Jordan Valley

A senior Israeli Cabinet minister and more than a dozen hawkish legislators poured cement at a construction site in a settlement in the West Bank's Jordan Valley on Thursday, in what they said was a message to visiting U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry that Israel will never relinquish the strategic area.
Virtually all of the politicians were either members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud or other parties in his coalition. Their visit to the isolated community of Gitit highlighted the political backlash Netanyahu would face if he agrees to leave the valley in a peace deal.
The valley runs along the eastern edge of the West Bank, abutting Jordan, and its fate is expected to be one of the key issues raised during Kerry's meetings in coming days with Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Kerry is to present his ideas for the outlines of a peace deal during these meetings, but is not expecting a final response during this trip.
Israel has traditionally viewed the valley as a buffer against possible Arab attack from the east, though Israeli security experts are now split on whether Israel needs to maintain control there in an era when long-range rockets perhaps pose a greater threat than tanks. Israel also has a peace treaty with Jordan.
The Palestinians want to establish a state in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem, lands Israel captured in 1967, and say such a state cannot be viable without the sparsely populated valley's agricultural potential and open spaces. The valley makes up about one-fourth of the West Bank.
Kerry has kept his bridging ideas largely under wraps, though Palestinian officials have said the U.S. raised the possibility of a continued Israeli military presence along the West Bank-Jordan border for at least 10 years, before withdrawing from the area.
Jordan Valley settlers number several thousand in 21 communities, a fraction of the nearly 600,000 Israelis who have moved to the West Bank and east Jerusalem since 1967.
Thursday's event at Gitit, a community of 70 families, was organized by the Land of Israel lobby, a pro-settler caucus of 39 of the Israeli parliament's 120 legislators, said spokesman Itai Chamo.
Thirteen members of the lobby attended, including six from Netanyahu's Likud Party, along with Interior Minister Gideon Saar, a senior Likud representative in Netanyahu's Cabinet. They dedicated a new neighbourhood of 20 homes, two of them already under construction.
Saar said the Jordan Valley must remain Israel's eastern border and its settlements must remain in place.
"The Jordan Valley is Israeli and it will remain Israeli," he said after the visitors, posing for cameras, poured concrete from a plastic bucket onto the foundation of a house under construction.
"I want to make clear that this would be not for a few years, not temporarily, but permanently for coming generations, for eternity," said Saar.
Dani Dayan, a settler leader, said Thursday's dedication signals that Israel will remain in the valley and that this "should be understood loud and clear in the State Department, the White House and in the Mukataa," a reference to Abbas' headquarters in Ramallah.
Netanyahu hasn't revealed his intentions, but faces a possible breakup of his centre-right coalition if he opts for compromise in a deal with the Palestinians. Opposition politicians have said they would support Netanyahu and counter any right-wing defections in such a scenario.

CARDIFF HIRES SOLSKJAER AS NEW MANAGER

CARDIFF -- Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was the ultimate super-sub in his 11 years at Manchester United, his lethal finishing snatching priceless league points and famously winning his team the Champions League in 1999.

Now, he is back in the Premier League and on a very different kind of rescue mission -- saving Cardiff from relegation.

The 40-year-old Solskjaer was hired as Cardiff's new manager on Thursday, swapping job security at Molde and a settled family life in his native Norway for the high-pressure world of football's richest league.

"I felt I needed to be back here," Solskjaer said of his return to the Premier League.

"I wish I was 25 again and playing in the Premier League," he added. "Time ticks for everyone so I can't -- now I'm a lucky man to be a manager in the Premier League."

Nicknamed the "Baby-faced Assassin" during his time at United from 1996-2007, it was a grey-haired Solskjaer who was presented at Cardiff City Stadium as the replacement for Malky Mackay, who was fired last week after losing a power struggle with the Welsh club's Malaysian owner, Vincent Tan.

Solskjaer has signed a rolling, season-by-season contract, with his first task to ensure Cardiff retains its Premier League status following its return to England's top flight for the first time in 51 years. Cardiff is 17th in the 20-team Premier League -- a point and a place above the relegation zone after 20 games.

If he achieves that, his next aim will be to establish the team from the Welsh capital as a force in the division. And he is pledging to do so by playing an attacking brand of football modeled on the sides of Alex Ferguson, who was his manager at United in that trophy-laden decade when Solskjaer won six league titles, two FA Cups and the Champions League.

Naturally, Solskjaer spoke to Ferguson before accepting the job at Cardiff, which is increasingly perceived in Britain as a tough role because of Tan's reported meddling in team affairs.

"When there's a big decision to make, you rely on certain people you trust," Solskjaer said. "I trusted him with my football career, to manage my career, and I trust him now as well."

Solskjaer's career, which reached its peak when he diverted home United's injury-time winner in a 2-1 victory over Bayern Munich in that most dramatic of Champions League finals, ended in 2007 after he failed to recover from a serious knee injury. He remained at United in a coaching and ambassadorial role, however, and went on to become the club's reserve-team manager.

He coached Molde -- his former club -- from 2011, winning back-to-back titles in his first two seasons and then the Norwegian Cup in his third.

Solskjaer was always tipped to make a return to the Premier League sooner rather than later, and was linked with vacant roles at Aston Villa and Blackburn only to stay in Norway for family reasons.

He was immediately installed as favourite to succeed Mackay after the Scot was fired on Friday and held talks with Tan and chairman Mehmet Dalman at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium on Wednesday before the team's match against the Premier League leaders.

Dalman said Solskjaer's name was the "only one name in my head from the very beginning."

"He is coming here to prove something to himself and to Cardiff," Dalman said. "I had no doubts from day one, so I do feel like the cat that got the cream."

Working under Tan may prove to be challenging, with Mackay barely communicating with his owner by the end of his time in charge. Since buying Cardiff in 2010, Tan has alienated some supporters by changing the club's colours from blue to red, adopting a new crest and then removing Mackay, who had guided the team to a League Cup final in 2012 and the Premier League a year later.

"When I went to Manchester United, it was a new experience for me; when I went back to Molde with the English influence I had, that was a cultural difference for people back in Norway," Solskjaer said. "Now when I come here, I want to create a culture here too. The communication between me and Mehmet and me and the owner will be crucial. Communication and dialogue is the key in any organization."

Solskjaer's first game in charge is against Newcastle in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday. He will return to Old Trafford on Jan. 28 for a league match against United.

Toronto's scandal-plagued mayor pitches 'Ford More Years' in bid for re-election

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford registers as a candidate Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014 for the city's 2014 municipal election in October. Councillor Doug Ford is at left. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Victor Biro
TORONTO - Toronto's troubled yet defiant mayor isn't allowing months of scandal to stop him from entering what's likely to be the most watched municipal race in the city's history.
Rob Ford was first in line at city hall to sign up for the Oct. 27 mayoral election when the nomination period opened Thursday.
He expressed confidence that he'll win "Ford More Years" in the top job, despite admitting to using crack cocaine in a "drunken stupor" and making a crude sexual comment on live TV, among other cringe-worthy incidents that have garnered international attention and made him the butt of jokes on late-night shows.
Departing Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Ryback joined in Thursday, tweeting "Only a couple of hours left. Must...suppress...inner...Rob...Ford".
Asked why voters should trust him after denying for months that he smoked crack, Ford replied: "That's all personal."
"Let the people speak for themselves," he said, adding that he'd rather have people vote against him than not vote at all.
"I've got the strongest track record," Ford added. "I've been the best mayor that this city has ever had."
Ford has steadfastly refused to take a leave or resign since reports surfaced in May of a video that appeared to show him smoking crack. Police said in October that they had recovered the video but refused to release it. Five days later, Ford confessed to using the drug while in office.
In November, city council voted to strip him of most of his powers, leaving him with little more than ribbon-cutting duties.
The besieged mayor called it a coup d'etat, comparing it to the 1991 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and a declaration of war.
But Ford has said he's turning his life around, staying off alcohol and trying to lose weight.
"We're going to let my track record speak for itself," the mayor said Thursday.
"I'm not running away from anyone. Let's have a full debate. Any time, any place, I'll debate anyone, even in their backyard."
He boasted that he's saved the city "hundreds of millions of dollars," created jobs and a "booming" economy in Toronto with a "business-friendly atmosphere of low taxes."
"That's Rob Ford, that's not ... the Canadian government," he told Toronto radio station 680News.
Other possible high-profile contenders for the job include NDP MP Olivia Chow, former Ontario Progressive Conservative leader John Tory and councillors Karen Stintz and Denzil Minnan-Wong.
None of them have filed their nomination papers, although Stintz has said she'll run. They have until Sept. 12 to enter the race.
Once nomination papers are filed, candidates are allowed to raise money and incur expenses for their campaigns.
Ford said he expect his rivals to "get personal" during the campaign.
"I know that's going to happen," he said. "I'm ready for it."
Note to readers: This is a corrected story; a previous version put election date at Oct. 2.

Egypt arrests seven over Mansoura suicide bombing

CAIRO (Reuters) - Seven people, including the son of a Muslim Brotherhood leader, have been arrested in connection with a suicide bomb attack on a police station north of Cairo that killed 16 people last month, the interior minister said.

The army-backed government listed the group as a terrorist organization after accusing it of carrying out the attack, one of the worst Egypt has faced since the army deposed Islamist Mohamed Mursi in July following protests against his rule.

The Brotherhood, which won five consecutive elections since the overthrow of autocrat Hosni Mubarak in 2011, denies any link to violence. A Sinai-based militant group, Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, claimed responsibility for the December 24 attack in Mansoura.

"Seven of the accused have been arrested, most prominent is Yehya Almongi Saad al-Huseini who is the son of a Muslim Brotherhood leader," Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim told a news conference.

Since Mursi was deposed, security forces have launched a wide crackdown against his Muslim Brotherhood and arrested thousands of his supporters who accuse the army of staging a coup and demand his reinstatement.

Ibrahim also accused the Muslim Brotherhood of opening up lines of communication with the Islamist group Hamas in neighboring Gaza and receiving military training from them.

He accused Hamas of involvement in various attacks in Egypt in recent months, without giving details.

Hamas, founded in 1987, is an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood.

A spokesman from Hamas, Sami Abu Zuhri, denied the accusations and called it an "attempt to mislead the Egyptian public and export the internal Egyptian crisis".

Around 350 police and soldiers have been killed in bombings and shootings since Mursi was ousted.

Car bomb kills four in Hezbollah Beirut bastion: minister

Beirut (AFP) - A car bomb killed four people in south Beirut Thursday, the fourth attack to hit the Hezbollah bastion since the Shiite group announced its intervention in Syria last year, the health minister said.

The bombing came just weeks after a twin suicide bombing killed 25 people at the Iranian embassy in the same area and marked a new breach of the tight security in Hezbollah's stronghold.

Health Minister Ali Hassan Khalil said four people had been killed and 77 wounded. He said the remains of a fifth person had also been found.

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said it may have been a suicide bombing.

Hezbollah's public confirmation last April that its fighters had intervened in the civil war alongside President Bashar al-Assad's forces outraged Lebanese Sunnis, most of whom sympathise with the Syrian rebels, and has made it a target for Sunni hardliners.

An AFP photographer in the densely populated area saw flames and smoke rising from burning vehicles and at least three damaged buildings.

Hezbollah's Al-Manar television aired footage of panicked bystanders scrambling to douse burning vehicles on the busy Al-Arid street, beneath a building whose facade had been burned out.

"The terrorist explosion targeted a densely populated residential area, just 150 to 200 metres (yards) away from Hezbollah's political bureau," Al-Manar reported, but said the building was not thought to have been the target.

The district is symbolic for Hezbollah, which once based many of its leadership institutions in the area.

Much of the neighbourhood was reduced to rubble during the massive Israeli air bombing that accompanied its 2006 war with Hezbollah, but it has since been rebuilt.

Interior minister Charbel told private Lebanese channel MTV: "We are leaning towards the hypothesis that a suicide bomber" caused the blast, as "human remains were found inside the car. But we cannot confirm this until we complete our investigations."

In a statement, the Lebanese army said 20 kilogrammes (44 pounds) of explosives had been planted inside a four-by-four vehicle, and that "the method of explosion is being investigated."

President Michel Sleiman said the car bomb had been planted "by the same hand that plants terrorism, killing and destruction everywhere in Lebanon."

He called for dialogue among the country's divided leaders and urged security services to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Caretaker prime minister Najib Mikati said "the hand of terrorism does not differentiate between us... Rather, it is planning a despicable conspiracy to drown Lebanese in sectarian strife."

The US embassy tweeted: "We condemn today's terrorist bombing in #Dahieh #Beirut. Our condolences to the victims and their families."

UN chief Ban Ki-moon said the bombing "further reflects a deeply worrying escalation in the violence witnessed in Lebanon in recent months."

"The secretary general calls on all Lebanese parties to act with restraint and for the Lebanese people to come together to support the institutions of the state, particularly the army and security forces, as they work to prevent other acts of terrorism." his spokesman said.

Syria's Information Minister Omran al-Zohbi too condemned the "terrorist bombing" against a stronghold of its Lebanese ally, state media said.

Thursday's bombing was the fourth attack in south Beirut since Hezbollah announced it was fighting in Syria.

As well as the Iranian embassy attack, the southern suburbs also suffered an August 15 bombing that killed 27 people and a blast earlier the same month that wounded some 50 people.

It comes less than a week after a car bomb in the heart of Beirut killed eight people, including prominent Sunni politician and former finance minister, Mohammad Chatah.

Former premier Saad Hariri, to whom Chatah was a key adviser, condemned Thursday's blast as a "diabolical act."

Analyst Paul Salem, vice president of the Washington-based Middle East Institute, said the latest bombings were "part of the broader proxy conflict in Syria, Iraq and Lebanon."

The bombings "show that, a year on from Hezbollah's announcement it was involved in Syria, it cannot protect its people," Salem said.

"Now it is not only losing its sons in Syria, but it is also unable to protect its people in Lebanon."

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says at least 262 Hezbollah fighters have been killed in Syria since the beginning of the conflict in March 2011.

Ex-president Pervez Musharraf goes to hospital instead of Pakistani court

Police officers check a vehicle near the Special Court formed to try former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf in Islamabad on Jan. 2. (MIAN KHURSHEED/REUTERS)

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The treason indictment of Pakistan’s former military ruler was postponed for the third time Thursday after the 70-year-old retired army general was suddenly taken to a military cardiac hospital with an undisclosed ailment instead of appearing in court to face the charges against him.

A three-member tribunal, formed to try ex-president Pervez Musharraf for suspending the constitution in 2007, announced that it would allow him more time because of his reported medical problems. The court then ordered him to appear on Monday, but Musharraf’s lawyers said that would depend on his health.

The latest twist in the melodrama surrounding Musharraf’s case raised speculation in the Pakistani capital that a deal was being arranged to allow him to leave the country rather than face the humiliation of a civilian trial, which analysts believe could cause unrest in the country’s powerful military establishment.

Musharraf failed to appear in court in December and again Wednesday, saying his life was in danger after police reported finding small quantities of explosives near his suburban farmhouse. On Thursday, with judges and lawyers waiting in the Islamabad courtroom, word came that the defendant had instead been taken to a military cardiac institute in the nearby garrison city of Rawalpindi.

Khalid Ranjha, one of Musharraf’s lawyers, told the judges that he had “started for court, but on the way he had some health problem,” and his convoy was rerouted to the hospital. Justice Faisal Arab challenged that explanation, asking sharply why Musharraf had not come to court earlier in the morning as scheduled.

Another member of Musharraf’s large legal team, Ahmed Kasuri, denied suggestions that the former army commander was trying to avoid facing the charges against him, which could carry the death penalty.

“Musharraf is not afraid of anyone,” Kasuri declared. “He spent his whole life like a commando. He is not a coward. He came here to face these baseless cases, and if he were afraid he wouldn’t have come to the country.”

Musharraf returned from exile in March, nearly five years after he was forced to leave power amid a wave of national protests. He had hoped to run for political office, but the new government — headed by the man Musharraf ousted in a 1999 coup — instead charged him in a number of criminal cases and put him under house arrest.

Aides to Musharraf, speaking to reporters outside the hospital late Thursday, offered no details about his condition. One aide, reached by phone at the ex-president’s house, said he was “okay” but that they were waiting for test results.

Commentators on Pakistan’s proliferation of news channels speculated all day on Musharraf’s health, state of mind and legal maneuvering. One friend told a TV interviewer that Musharraf was “heartbroken” at being mistreated by the courts and betrayed by former friends and allies who supported his actions as president.

Others suggested that the army, considered the most powerful institution in Pakistan, was trying to find a quiet way to avoid the embarrassing trial of its former chief without openly supporting him. Rumors circulated here that a visit by the Saudi foreign minister this week was part of an attempt to arrange Musharraf’s return to exile.

Defense Minister Khwaja Asif was quoted on one TV news channel as saying that the government had not made any decision to send the former president abroad. “Musharraf has repeatedly said he would face the cases and not go anywhere,” Asif said. “Now it is time he honors his commitment and faces the cases again.”

One Last Look Back at Country Music in 2013

Before we put 2013 in the back of the closet, we at The 615 thought it would be a great idea to look back at ten things that we won't forget about the country music industry in 2013... and maybe a sneak peek into the crystal ball.
TAYLOR SWIFT & CARRIE UNDERWOOD – Arguably the format's two biggest stars, both women had years to remember in 2013. Swift was everywhere during the year promoting Red, and her tour stop in Nashville was a breathtaking evening of music and production. She also once again showed her love of the industry with a donation to the Country Music Hall of Fame. Underwood wrapped up a successful tour of her own with "Blown Away," and took a huge risk in her performance of "The Sound Of Music" last month – paying off beautifully. Again, both ladies took the format to new heights and did so with class!
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10 Best Country Albums of 2013: 615 Picks
10 Best Country Singles of 2013: 615 Picks
MUSGRAVES, MONROE & CLARK – On the other end of the female vocalist spectrum was this talented trio of ladies who dominated the critics'  list during 2013 with albums that should stand the test of time with Same Trailer Different Park, Like A Rose, and 12 Stories, respectively. Think the format is falling apart? Think again!
CASH PRESERVATION – As the music world marked a decade since the passing of "The Man In Black," there were several instances of his legendary career being celebrated in 2013. First, there was the opening of the beautiful Johnny Cash Museum in downtown – which elicited praise from former Vice-President Al Gore. Then, the annual Johnny Cash Music Festival continued to pay tribute to his legacy – as well as restore his Arkansas boyhood home. Then, Sony announced plans to release some never-heard-before music from Cash in the first quarter of 2014!
THE COMEBACK KID – It had been seven years since Kenny Rogers had last released a studio set with Water & Bridges. 2013 marked a career renaissance for "The Gambler," complete with induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame, a well-received performance at Zac Brown's Southern Ground Festival, and yet another top ten disc in You Can't Make Old Friends. Thankfully, he hasn't "folded them" just yet!
KEITH URBAN – Whether it be "American Idol," his tour, or Fuse, his latest disc, there is nothing he does that he simply doesn't knock out of the ballpark. He has been very vocal about his support of the Country Music Hall of Fame through his "All For The Hall" concerts. At this rate, he should be there in a few years!
LEGACIES – The industry lost some amazing creative forces in 2013, with legendary exec Jim Fogelsong and Hall of Famers George Jones and Ray Price heading up the list. Losing these artists was undoubtedly sad, but there was no doubt how much both men were loved and respected by their fellow artists -and the industry.
REBA & THE OAKS CELEBRATE - Two of the format's greatest acts of all time marked milestones in 2013. Reba McEntire made headlines with a new exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame – where she has been a member since 2011. And, while the Oak Ridge Boys have been a recording unit – in one form or another – since the 1940s, the lineup of William Lee Golden, Duane Allen, Richard Sterban, and Joe Bonsall marked four decades together in 2013. Hall of Fame voters, are you listening?
GILL AND FRANKLIN, HISTORY TEACHERS – Speaking of the heritage of the format, kudos to Vince Gill and Paul Franklin for showcasing one of the richest periods of the music's history with the July release of Bakersfield. Take five Buck Owens classics and five from Merle Haggard, and you have a recipe for greatness! We would love to attend this history class any day of the week!
WARNER BROTHERS, THE PLACE TO BE – Just like many NFL free agents might choose the Seattle Seahawks or Denver Broncos if they were choosing a team to play for, John Esposito and Warner Brothers might very well be the top place for chances for an artists' success. Take the continued staying power of Blake Shelton, the development of Jana Kramer, Gloriana, and The Farm, Brett Eldredge and Charlie Worsham's big splash, the afore-mentioned success of Kenny Rogers, and the transformation of Sheryl Crow to the format, and if the label had a Chamber of Commerce, it might be a pretty profitable division!
WALKING THE WALK – Bluegrass music might be off the radar of mainstream country, but the January release of Brothers Of The Highway offered more proof that when Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent hit the studio – magic tends to happen. Both men and their band are among the best in the business, but when Dailey hits the high notes – there are few that do it any better!
THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2014 – While 2013 has been a great year for the newer female vocalists, look for some great moments to come from some of the heritage voices of the format. With Rosanne Cash, Dolly Parton, Lee Ann Womack (finally!), Suzy Bogguss, and Martina McBride all releasing new music in 2014, it promises to be a great year. Patty Loveless, can you be far behind?

FG charges taskforce on unremitted $9.6bn

the Federal Government has inaugurated the Inter Ministerial Task Team, IMTT to recover un-remitted $9.6 billion contained in the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI Audit Report.

The development stems from the lacklustre attitudes of major players in the extractive industries, especially in the oil and gas sector towards remittance of revenues.

The government also charged the IMTT to ensure prompt recovery of all outstanding revenues, comprising underpayments and unreconciled differences identified in the various NEITI Audit Reports.

Although concerted efforts by NEITI and the Federal Inland Revenue Services, FIRS had resulted in the recovery of $2 billion, government charged the team to also work closely with NEITI and ensure prompt recovery of all outstanding revenues due to the Federation.

NEITI in a statement issued in Abuja, said the IMTT was inaugurated by the Secretary to the Federal Government, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.

The IMTT, which is chaired by the NEITI Chairman, Mr. Ledum Mitee, was also charged to examine the findings and recommendations in NEITI Audit Reports, and give advice to affected relevant agencies on appropriate steps to address the issues.

The Taskforce is equally charged to identify any bottlenecks to the realisation of the above, and make any necessary recommendations to Government through the SGF. It is also to undertake any other measures desirable to ensure that recommendations by NEITI add value to ongoing reforms in the industry.

The team is also to advise the Federal Executive Council on any issue in the NEITI Audit Report findings that needs the Council’s intervention.

Other members of the team include the Director, Department of Petroleum Resources; Group Managing Director, NNPC; Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria; Chairman, Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation & Fiscal Commission; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development; and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

Others are the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF); Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS; Auditor General of the Federation; Chief Economic Adviser to the President; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance; and Managing Director, Pipelines and Products Marketing Company, PPMC.

In the team are also the Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC; Executive Secretary, Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency, PPPRA;  Chairman, Nigeria Miners Association, NMA;  Director General, Mining Cadastral Office, MCO; and Chairman, Oil Producers Trade Section, OPTS, of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Anyim was quoted in the statement as saying that the inauguration of IMTT was an indication of Government’s firm belief that transparency in the sector would definitely impact positively on other sectors, thereby limiting wastage, significantly reducing corruption, as well as increasing overall revenue.”

He urged the members of the reconstituted Task Team to remain resolute and carry out this important national assignment with determination, while exhibiting the highest level of commitment and professionalism capable of creating the desired impact of EITI Implementation in the country.

It would be recalled that Nigeria signed up to the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, EITI, in 2003, commenced implementation in 2004, and institutionalised the implementation of the initiative with the NEITI Act 2007.

When Nigeria signed up to the initiative, it was a conscious decision based on a clear conviction that once transparency is implanted in the management of the nation’s abundant extractive resources, it will boost Government’s efforts toward poverty reduction. It will also enhance sustainable development, social harmony as well as improve the investment climate in the country.

Photos: J-Martins Acquires 2013 G-Wagon

Don Family Music Group Boss and Afro Pop Sensation; J.Martins ends the year on a remarkable note, and rolls into the new year by rewarding himself with a new car. A 2013 G-Wagon AMG G55. Excited J Martins decided to share the pictures of his newly acquired toy with the media and his loyal army of fans.