Want to See HSM3 Early? How's Your French?

Quelle scandale!

While hometown Wildcats fans are waiting until next Friday to see High School Musical 3: Senior Year, audiences in France—France!—get the movie on Wednesday.

Wednesday!

A dastardly plot by Old Europe to have Zac Efron all to itself—at least for 48 hours?

Uh, no.

For one thing, says Mark Zoradi, president of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Group, movies in France traditionally open on Wednesdays, not Fridays.

For another thing, Troy Bolton is dreamy in any language.

Yes, the HSM franchise, that all-American saga of young love, basketball and jazz hands, just so happens to have a fanatical following overseas.

"The music and the dancing really does travel," Zoradi says. "Music tends to travel really, really well."

And so do the HSM stars, as they and the paparazzi who worked their recent red carpet premieres in Europe could attest.

"The response was just fantastic," Zoradi says. "It was equal to what we've seen in the U.S. here."

Indeed, the first two HSM movies, both produced for and aired on cable, were watched by a combined 550.7 million worldwide, per Disney Channel stats. Viewers in the U.S. only made up about 20 percent of that audience, compared to 35 percent for Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Next weekend, HSM3 will make its theatrical debut in more than 20 countries. Like France, the United Kingdom and Scandanavia will be treated to Wednesday launches.

Americans, take heart. The HSM3 crew was back in the continental home of East High for last night's Hollywood premiere.

France may get to experience Efron and company on the big screen earlier, but the States gets them forever.

Until they take off for Japan in about a week or so.

Travis Barker Released From Hospital

Earlier this morning, Travis Barker told fans he was "healing up quickly" and would be out of the hospital "b4 you know it."

He wasn't kidding.

On Friday, exactly four weeks after surviving a private plane crash, the former Blink-182 drummer was released from Sherman Oaks' Grossman Burn Center, the Los Angeles-area facility where he has been receiving treatment since Sept. 29.

The 32-year-old rocker will continue his recovery at home and has requested privacy while he continues to recover from the second- and third-degree burns he sustained in the Sept. 19 Learjet crash.

Prior to his California return, Barker was treated at Georgia's Joseph M. Still Burn Center for 10 days. He relocated to his SoCal home base on a specially equipped bus staffed by medical personnel.

Like his friend and fellow surviving passenger Adam "DJ AM" Goldstein, Barker is expected to make a full recovery.

For his part, AM is slowly but surely resuming his precrash life, having triumphantly returned to the spinning scene this week by joining Jay-Z onstage for a Hollywood concert.

An investigation into the crash, which killed the other four onboard, is ongoing.eonline

Janet Jackson Resumes Rockin' Witchu

Love doesn't have to do without Janet Jackson anymore.

The 42-year-old pop diva performed as if she had never heard of a thing called vertigo as she finally resumed her Rock Witchu Tour Wednesday night in Washington, D.C.

Miss Jackson had been sidelined since Sept. 29 with migraine-associated vertigo and, on doctors' orders, was forced to postpone nine shows, including one originally scheduled for tomorrow at Madison Square Garden.

But the sell-out crowd gathered at the Verizon Center tonight got lucky. Jackson made her entrance amid fireworks and theatrical smoke and then, knowing what works, kicked off the show with a medley of "The Pleasure Principle," "Control" and "What Have You Done for Me Lately," all off of 1986's Control.

"It feels so good to be back after being down just a little bit," the artist said during a brief break in the evening's lineup, which also included her latest single, "Feedback," "Miss You Much," "Nasty" and "Rhythm Nation."

Mehrshad Kamizi- the 20kg baby

IRANIAN OF THE DAY
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EFCC arraigns Amaechi’s aide over N5bn fraud

The Chief of Staff to Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Mr. Ezebunwo Wike, was on Thursday arraigned before an Abuja High Court for allegedly converting over N5bn belonging to the state into personal use.
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The The Chairman of the EFCC, Mrs Farida Waziri

His arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission coincided with the demand by the state government for the payment of N3bn compensation to Wike by the EFCC.

Two of the charges read, “That you, Wike, sometime between 2007 and 2008, at Abuja in the Abuja Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, converted to your own use, N3.5bn, belonging to the Rivers State Government, and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 309 of the Penal Code Cap 532 of the Federation of Nigeria 1990.

“That you, Wike, sometime between 2007 and 2008 did dishonestly convert to your own use, N129m belonging to the state, and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 309 of the Penal Code Cap 532 of the Federation of Nigeria 1990.”

The Chief of Staff, who pleaded not guilty to a seven-count charge brought against him, was however granted bail in the sum of N50m by Justice Adebukola Banjoko.

He is also to produce two sureties that must be resident in the Federal Capital Territory .

Earlier, one of the lawyers to the accused person, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), had told Banjoko that the governor’s aide, who had practised as a lawyer for more than 10 years, would neither tamper with EFCC’s investigations nor jump bail.

Fagbemi, who led two other SANS— Damien Dodo and Sunday Ameh— also informed the justice that the state High Court in Port Harcourt had ordered the release of Wike.

He said, “The accused person walked into the office of the EFCC on Monday and has been in detention since then, I want to present before this court, an order of the Rivers State High Court that declared the arrest, detention and continued detention of the accused person as illegal.

“The court also ordered that he should be released from custody henceforth pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.”

The counsel for the EFCC, Mr. James Binang, did not oppose the oral application for bail but he said the condition should be stringent.

Binang said, “We have been served with a copy of the order of the High Court, we want to submit that his (Wike) arrest and detention was lawful as it was based on the reasonable suspicion that he has committed a crime.

“He was also brought to court with reasonable time; we brought him to court within 48 hours, so the EFCC will not obey that order unless this court says so.

“All conditions for his bail now rest with this court. Our investigations disclosed both felony and money laundering, and it is only the Federal High Court that has the jurisdiction to entertain money laundering cases.

“We urge the court to, in considering the bail application, take into cognizance of the amount of money involved and to put conditions that would make him attend his trial.”

After listening to the argument, Banjoko granted the accused bail and ordered him to submit two passport photographs to the court’s registry.

“I have taken cognisance of the fact that the offences for which the accused person is standing trial are bailable, therefore bail is granted in the sum of N50m with two sureties who must be resident in the FCT. They must swear an affidavit showing evidence of payment of their taxes for three years,” he said.

The judge consequently adjourned hearing on the matter till October 24.

But the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Magnus Abe, described the arraignment of Wike as persecution.

Abe, who was released on Wednesday by the EFCC, said that the government would do everything possible to meet the bail conditions.

The Resident Media Consultant to Amaechi, Mr. David Iyofor, told journalists that Abe was at the commission’s office to submit a letter explaining the whereabouts of other members of the government under investigation when he was detained.

The other officials that were invited by the anti-graft agency in connection with the fraud are the Commissioner of Finance, Mr. Thank God Ideozu; the Accountant-General of the State, Mr. Ngozi Abu; and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mrs. A. E. Dokubo.

Iyofor said, “As a law abiding citizen, the SSG had only gone to appraise the commission of the location of the officers of government, when he was picked up and detained unlawfully for more than 48 hours.

“Now, the commission claimed he was arrogant and uncooperative. Since when did it become a crime to be arrogant? That is what we want the EFCC to explain to us.”

The government also accused the anti-graft agency of infringing on Wike’s rights by detaining him “unconstitutionally.”

In an application it filed at the High Court in Port Harcourt, the government condemned the arrest and detention of Abe for about 48 hours without any cause.

The state, therefore, sought leave of the court to enforce Wike’s rights and the payment N3bn to him by the EFCC.

“The court should compel the commission to, within 14 days or such time as may be ordered, pay to the applicant (Wike) the N3bn or any such sum as may be deemed appropriate as monetary compensation or aggravated damages for the infringement of his fundamental rights, ” it said.

It was learnt on Thursday that the governor had returned to the country from his overseas trip and may be meeting with management of the EFCC.punch online

Michelle Obama not offended by 'that one' comment

(CNN) -- The wife of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama told CNN's Larry King on Wednesday that she is not offended by a much-publicized comment made toward her husband in Tuesday night's debate.
Michelle Obama talks about Williams Ayers, Hillary Clinton and her husband's campaign on Larry King Live.

Michelle Obama talks about Williams Ayers, Hillary Clinton and her husband's campaign on Larry King Live.

In the presidential matchup at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, GOP nominee John McCain criticized his Democratic rival for supporting the 2007 Bush-Cheney energy bill.

"It was an energy bill on the floor of the Senate, loaded down with goodies, billions for oil companies, and it was sponsored by Bush and Cheney. ... You know who voted for it? You might never know. That one," he said, gesturing toward Obama. "You know who voted against it? Me."

When asked whether McCain's reference to Obama as "that one" was offensive, Michelle Obama simply said "No," adding that the issue has nothing to do with what's affecting average Americans hurting from the economic downturn.

"I think there are two conversations that have been going on throughout this whole election. There's the conversation that's been happening with the pundits ... and then there's the conversation that's been happening on the ground," she said. Video Watch Michelle Obama talk about McCain's comment »

She said Americans "right now are scared" and "nervous about the economy."

"They don't care about the back and forth between the candidates. ... They want real answers about how we're going to fix this economy and get the health care benefits on track so, you know, this is part of politics," she added.

King asked Obama about the McCain camp bringing up her husband's ties to William Ayers. Ayers was a founding member of the Weather Underground, a 1960s radical group known for bombings of police stations, the Pentagon and the U.S. Capitol. Fact Check: Is Obama 'palling around with terrorists'?

Ayers is a university professor who lives on the South Side of Chicago, where Obama cut his political teeth.

Michelle Obama said her husband served on a Chicago education board with Ayers.

"I don't know anyone in Chicago who is heavily involved in education policy who doesn't know Bill Ayers," she said. "But, you know, again I go back to the point that, you know, the American people aren't asking these questions."

"You don't think it affects the campaign?" King asked.

"You know, I think that we've been in this for 20 months and people have gotten to know Barack. He's written a book, books have been written about him. He, like all of the other candidates have been thoroughly vetted. And I think people know Barack Obama. Video Watch Michelle Obama discuss William Ayers »

"They know his heart, they know his spirit, and the thing that I just encourage people is to judge Barack and judge all of these candidates based on what they do, their actions, their character, what they do in their lives rather than what somebody [else] did when they were 8."

Michelle Obama was referring to the fact that Ayers allegedly committed his most radical acts when Barack Obama was a child.

McCain's running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin, has lobbed some intense attacks on Barack Obama over the Ayers issue. "Our opponent is someone who sees America as imperfect enough to pal around with terrorists who targeted their own country," Palin told a crowd of supporters this week.

King played the clip and asked Michelle Obama if that statement made her "mad."

Obama replied, "I don't watch it."

"What do you make of her running for a vice president and having many kids and being a good parent and bouncing all the balls?" King asked.

"I think she provides an excellent of example of all the different roles that women can and should play," Michelle Obama responded. "I'm a mother with kids and I've had a career and I've had to juggle. She's doing publicly what so many women are doing on their own privately. What we're fighting for is to make sure that all women have the choices that Sarah Palin and I have."

At one point, King asked her if her husband likes McCain. "Do these two candidates, as has been reported, not like each other?" King asked.

"I can only speak for Barack, and I know that Barack has the utmost respect for Sen. McCain. He said so on so many occasions," she said. "I think this has been a long, tough fight. And politics sometimes leads to things said between the candidates. But again, what we found is that people are really focused on who is going to -- who has got the vision that's going to take us to the next level?"

She said campaigning is exhausting but she likes it more than she expected.

"When I'm tired, I get more energy coming out of a rally where I get the -- get hugs and I see people on the rope lines tearing up because they never thought they'd see this moment," she said. "I see kids who are focused and engaged in a way that I've never seen before. That gives us both energy."

Obama also talked about Sen. Hillary Clinton.

"Are you happy with the way she's supporting your husband?" King asked.
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"She has been phenomenal. ...She has always been just cordial and open. I've called her, I've talked to her. She's given me advice about the kids," Obama said. Video Watch Michelle Obama call Hillary Clinton 'phenomenal' »

Obama holds advertising advantage over McCain

Barack Obama spent $3.3 million in TV advertising on Monday. At that rate, the Democrat will spend more than $90 million on ads through Election Day - more than all the money Republican rival, John McCain, has to spend on his entire fall campaign, The Associated Press reported on Thursday.
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Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama

McCain’s ad spending Monday, totaled about $900,000 and the Republican National Committee weighed in with about $700,000 worth.

All whopping numbers, but the disparity between Obama and the Republicans is so wide that it has allowed Obama to spend in more states than McCain, to appear more frequently in key markets, and to diversify his message by both attacking McCain and promoting his own personal story.

With national and state polls showing him building a broader lead over McCain, Obama has switched to a more positive pitch. Last week, only 34 percent of his ads attacked McCain directly while virtually all of McCain‘s ads attacked Obama, according to a study by the Wisconsin Advertising Project at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

One of Obama’s most recent ads came as Sarah Palin, McCain’s running mate, made an issue of Obama’s connections to 1960s radical, Bill Ayers, and argued that Obama “is not a man who sees America like you and I see America.”

The ad bespeaks Americana. In it, Obama recalls being a child, sitting on his grandfather’s shoulders and waving an American flag as they watched astronauts return from a splashdown. “And my grandfather would say, ‘Boy, Americans, we can do anything when we put our minds to it.”

The ad offers a direct response to Palin. But it also illustrates Obama‘s continuing need as an African-American to reassure voters about his candidacy.

Boosted by an economy in crisis and a saturation of advertising, Obama has built up his margins over McCain in Democratic-leaning battlegrounds such as Pennsylvania and Michigan. He has tilted Republican-leaning states such as Colorado and New Mexico toward his side. And he has created contests in such reliably Republican states as Indiana, Virginia and North Carolina.

At the same time, outside groups have weighed in on both sides. VoteVets.org, a group critical of Bush war policies, on Wednesday began spending $350,000 on ads in Virginia criticising McCain for opposing full college scholarships for those who serve three years in the military.

The AP reported that Health Care for America Now, a coalition that includes unions and patient advocates, is airing an ad in Ohio and on national cable criticising McCain‘s health care plan, echoing a similar message in an Obama ad.

By now, McCain’s allies had hoped the Arizona senator would have established his dominance in states won by President Bush in 2000 and 2004 and would have focused on winning two of the three key Rust Belt states of Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan.punch

Recuperating Janet Ready to Rock Witchu Again

Janet Jackson is ready for more onstage escapades.

A rep for the veteran pop star said Wednesday that Jackson is ready to continue the North American leg of her Rock Witchu tour after sitting out a handful of dates to recover from an unspecified ailment.

Due to all the reshuffling, she has decided against playing NYC's Madison Square Garden on Oct. 16 but will be back on the road Oct. 11 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

"Janet, who has been under her doctor's care and recuperating over the last week, is excited about getting back on the road and again being able to share with her fans what she feels is one of her best stage shows ever," a rep for tour promoter Live Nation said in a statement to Access Hollywood.

The Grammy winner was forced to postpone shows in Montreal, Philadelphia, Boston, Greensboro, N.C., Atlanta and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., after falling ill Sept. 29 in Montreal. She was rushed from rehearsal to Royal Victoria Hospital, where she spent several hours before being discharged.

All fans were asked to hang on to their tickets, which will be honored at future makeup dates. So far, the Atlanta and New York shows have been rescheduled for Oct. 19 and Nov. 1, respectively.

Hefner's Shannon Twins Packing Legal Baggage

Hugh Hefner's new gal-pals aren't quite as innocent as they look. Um, anyway?

Florida police records show that 19-year-old twins Karissa and Kristina Shannon, who appear to be seeking permanent quarters in the Playboy Mansion, are currently on probation for a battery bust in St. Petersberg.

The sisters were arrested in the early morning hours of Jan. 10 and booked on suspicion of felony aggravated battery, per arrest reports obtained by E! News. They were released from custody after posting $10,000 bonds and were later given probation and ordered to pay restitution for the incident, the details of which have not been determined just yet.

Prior to that run-in with the law, Karissa Shannon was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor battery last November.

No further information about their dual arrests was available, but their records do indicate that the blonde, blue-eyed twins aren't exactly identical.eonline

Robbers on the rampage on Lagos Island, kill two

Different gangs of armed robbers operating on motorcycles on Wednesday caused a stampede on Lagos Island as they went on the rampage in some areas.


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Inspector-General of Police, Mike Okiro
Two persons, whose identities could not be ascertained as at press time, were reportedly shot dead by the robbers.

The confusion forced many banks, especially on Victoria Island to beef up security around their premises, while some others hurriedly closed to customers.

One of the victims was reportedly killed by the robbers near the Yoruba Tennis Club, Onikan, while the other was killed close to some banks on Victoria Island.

The intervention of mobile policemen attached to Police Mobile Force 2, Keffi, led by Mr. Patrick Ejedawe, a superintendent of police, later led to the arrest of two of the robbers.

One of the suspects, who identified himself as Ifeanyi George, was paraded before journalists while drenched in blood at the Lagos State Police Command headquarters, Ikeja, shortly after he was arrested.

Amidst groaning and requesting for water, George told journalists that he was operating on motorcycle with one Sherriff.

One of the victims of the robbers‘ raid, Bolarinwa Segun, said he was robbed of N410,000 in front of a bank located on Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, shortly after he withdrew the money.

He said, ”I have been to some banks where I was turned back. They said they were not attending to customers because of robbers. I later found one (bank) that opened to customers at Akin Adesola.

“I withdrew the money and kept it inside an envelope before putting it inside a polythene bag.

”Immediately I stepped out of the bank, a guy ran towards me with a pistol and snatched the money from me. He quickly mounted a waiting motorcycle and ran away. Some commercial motorcyclists who witnessed the scene from a safe distance mobilised and pursued them.

“Mobile policemen around Falomo joined in the chase towards Onikan roundabout before they veered towards MUSON Centre where they had a collision with a Toyota Corolla car.

“A mobile policeman shot one of them but the rider escaped. They recovered some of the money.”

The robbers, THE PUNCH learnt, stationed themselves at different spots close to the bank premises with the aim of robbing unsuspecting customers.

A top police source told our correspondent that policemen initially had difficulty in arresting the suspects because they (the policemen) did not want innocent citizens to be killed in the process.

Another Booted from Top Model's Body Beautiful

And now there are seven, bringing the collective weight of the remaining America's Next Top Model contestants down by at least 30 pounds.
Find out whose award-show-faux-pas picture was not in Tyra Banks' hands at the end of tonight's episode…
Unfortunately, Lauren Brie Harding didn't just turn blonder this season—she got blander, too.
Targeted for her waning personality and mannequin-like presence, the 20-year-old student from Virginia (second from right) became the latest aspiring catwalker to be eliminated from ANTM.
Tyra & Co. spotlighted Lauren "It's just me" Brie's inability to convey any emotion in recent weeks during photo shoots and, despite the fact her I've-fallen-and-I-can't-get-up Fiercy Awards pic showed a beautiful girl, the judges started attributing L.B.'s success to the hair-and-makeup guys instead.
Almost run out of town, meanwhile, was Sheena Sakai, who's been slipping in the judges' eyes from week to week. (They obviously don't care that, so far, she's the nicest girl in the house.)
The buxom Harlem resident is a good-tempered, willing listener—and she promptly toned down the hooch appeal when Tyra asked her to—but she let her eyes get away from her tonight in her someone's-stepping-on-my-dress photo.
On a more promising note, Marjorie Conrad's nerves got the best of everyone else for a change. The wide-eyed fille won tonight's pose-off challenge—utilizing her bird-like limbs to evoke a starving French girl a more appealing Hunchback of Notre Dame—and was rewarded with an $8,700 diamond pendant from Rafinity, a prize she shared with Analeigh Tipton, who picked out a $3,200 peace sign necklace from the L.A. jeweler.
The oft terrified-looking Marjorie also kicked butt when she took to a bathroom stall to pose as an award show attendee who had to pee but couldn't quite maneuver out of her full-length gown.
Another favorite from the photo shoot, despite not being able to zero in on a "signature pose," was Analeigh. The adorable Sacramento, Calif., native fully embodied the role of bitchy interviewer and she finally got Paulina Porizkova to admit that the girl is model material.
Also still in the running to go abroad in two weeks, not to mention become America's Next Top Model, are Joslyn Pennywell, who recaptured some of that early-cycle magic in her someone's-wearing-my-dress photo; boxing enthusiast McKey Sullivan; runway flasher Samantha Potter; and control queen Elina Ivanova, who cried for goodness sake and still couldn't sell emotion in her film.
So, are you surprised that Lauren Brie took a bow this early in the competition? Who should walk the runway plank next week? Was Tyra really known that much for her fierce stare back in the day? They walked the walk, now you talk the talk...

NIGERIA SAFE FROM GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS - WORLD BANK

Following wide spread fears of the global financial crisis presently distressing many of world’s large economies, the World Bank has at last assured that the effect, after all, may not impact negatively on the Nigerian economy. The assurance is coming barely one month after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had similarly, during its latest Monetary Policy Committee meeting envisaged a minimal impact of the global financial turmoil on the Nigerian economy, owing basically to what it referred to as very strong macro-economic fundamentals. But the World Bank believes that with the Nigerian banking system not having significant foreign ownership, especially in the United States, for instance, it stands the least chance of experiencing the current turbulent situation of the U.S. banking system. Presently, Nigeria and South Africa which have the largest economies in Africa have foreign ownership share of just less than five percent compared with a developing country average of about 40 percent. Secondly, the World Bank believes that even if the present financial market turmoil results to a global recession, for oil exporters like Nigeria whose reference budget price is below $70, a drop in oil price would not be as damaging as in the past episodes. Again, the Bank envisages there could be a ‘cut-back’ in foreign capital inflows into the African region which could seriously affect growth and poverty but with Nigeria’s current Aid assistance from donors standing at about only one percent of its budget, such low inflows might not really affect the country’s economy. At a Video Conference organised by the Bank to brief the African press and the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on crucial global and regional issues in preparation for it’s up-coming Annual Meetings in Washington Mid-October yesterday, Shanta Devarajan, World Bank’s Chief Economist expressed these views but warned that caution should be taken in formulating and implementing policies to avoid impact of the financial crisis on the Nigerian economy. BusinessDay, p.4

Study: More employees checking work e-mail in off hours

NEW YORK (AP) -- Joe Soto, general manager of an advertising firm in Philadelphia, has a complicated relationship with his BlackBerry e-mail phone.


A new study found that 22 percent of U.S. workers said they check office e-mail "often" on weekends.

He felt "awful" and out of touch when he was without a BlackBerry for two days because his unit fell overboard when he was sailing on the Chesapeake.

At the same time, if he could turn back the clock five years, to before the BlackBerry took over corporate America, he would do it "in a minute."

"If everybody also threw their BlackBerrys away, I would too," he said, chuckling. "The only problem is, in my industry, it makes me more competitive."

A study published Wednesday by the Pew Internet and American Life Project shows that workers in general have mixed feelings about the increased use of e-mail and the Internet in the last few years.

In a survey of 2,134 adults in March and April, 96 percent used e-mail, the Internet or cell phones. Of them, 80 percent said these technologies have improved their ability to do their jobs, and 58 percent said these tools have given them more control over when to work.
But 46 percent also said these devices increase the demands that they work more hours, and 49 percent said that the technologies make it harder to disconnect from work when they should be off.

Half of the respondents who were employed and had e-mail said they check their work e-mail on weekends, and a full 22 percent said they checked office e-mail "often" on the weekends, up from 16 percent who said the same thing in 2002.

Much of the increase can be attributed to increased use of wireless e-mail devices like the BlackBerry, made by Research in Motion Ltd. Of those who have such gadgets, 40 percent say they often check work e-mail on weekends. A quarter often check in even when on vacation.

"The scariest thing was when I was on vacation a couple of years ago, and my BlackBerry rang. I was in the middle of the Sahara Desert!" Soto said.

Checking work e-mail is considered much more important for people making more than $75,000 a year than it is for low earners, just as high earners are more likely to have longer hours. Also those who work for large corporations are much more likely to be checking their e-mail "constantly" at work, compared to those who work for smaller companies.

For workers in general, it's unclear whether e-mail alone is increasing the amount of work. Other studies show that people have worked roughly the same number of hours every week for the last two decades. In the Pew study, 17 percent said e-mail had increased their work hours, while 6 percent said the opposite -- that e-mail reduced the time they had to work.

The survey was conducted by phone, and the respondents were called randomly. The margin of sampling error was plus or minus 4 percent.cnn

South Africa elects Motlanthe president

CAPETOWN, South Africa (CNN) -- South Africa's Parliament chose the deputy president of the ruling ANC party, Kgalema Motlanthe, as interim president Thursday to replace outgoing President Thabo Mbeki, the African National Congress said.

Kgalema Motlanthe would remain in office until elections in South Africa next spring.

Mbeki resigned last weekend at the request of the ANC, which holds a majority in the National Assembly.

Motlanthe, a left-leaning intellectual with roots in South African labor unions, will be sworn in Thursday. He will remain in office until the general elections, now scheduled for April.

The new interim president is a former political prisoner under the apartheid regime who spent 10 years at the infamous Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was also incarcerated.

After more than a third of the cabinet resigned after Mbeki's ouster, Motlanthe is under pressure to put together a government that will inspire confidence among investors jittery about South Africa's political stability and direction.

ANC President Jacob Zuma, who defeated Mbeki in an election for the political party's top job in December, is widely expected to win the nation's presidential contest.

Ten days after Zuma was chosen as ANC leader, prosecutors indicted him on corruption, fraud and racketeering charges.

A judge threw out the case this month, calling it invalid, and accused Mbeki's government of political interference. Prosecutors could still revive the case.

Mbeki led South Africa for nearly 10 years before announcing Saturday that he would step down.

In his speech, he listed several of his accomplishments, saying that under his leadership, the country has had the longest period of sustained economic growth in its history and has reached out to indigent people in an unprecedented way.

TONY TETUILA IN NITE CLUB BRAWL

Former Remedies star Tony Tetuila is not the kind of guy that looks for every opportunity to cause chaos or pick up a fight. But the 33 year old act lost his cool last Friday during a night out with friends.

According to eye witness accounts, Tetuila was partying in the VIP area of Club Papas (a night club domiciled in K’s Place, Victoria island, Lagos) when the incident occurred. ‘‘He got involved in a heated argument with one of the bouncers’’, said a source who was also lounging in the club’s VIP section. ‘‘The guy must have said something very nasty because Tony was very upset and he lost his cool’’.

More than two people got injured in the process, as Tony threw his wine glass, injuring one of the club’s bodyguards in the head. Attempts by friends to hold him back proved futile as he tried to break lose, and wrestle the bodyguard.

Club owner Frank Okamigbo was not seen on the scene. But known names who witnessed the altercation include Banky W, Kaha, Jude Okoye.

‘‘It was a complete show of shame’’, said a source who witnessed the incident. ‘‘No matter what happened, Tony should not have reduced himself to the level of fighting with bouncers, and even injuring one of them’’

It was claimed that one of his friends, a certain Kentro World act called Flo also threw a can of beer at one of the bouncers.

Police was not called in.

And Tony continued to dance away all night, as the injured bouncer had to excuse himself from work and treat his wound.

WHYWE HAVEN’T SUED ANITA BAKER - PROMOTERS

American soul diva Anita Baker may have to meet the organisers of her foiled Nigerian concert in court, if se fails to refund the fees she was paid for the concert.


A director at Kilimanjaro, the organisers of the event Mrs Toyin Adekoya told me on Tuesday that the company may resort to legal action, if Baker’s representatives do not refund the performance fees through their booking agent.
Adekoya told me ‘‘we have made a request for refund through the booking agent we used, and they have not said they are not making refunds. So, the issue of legal action has not yet come up. If they do not make the necessary refunds, then we will decide what to do’’.

However, speaking the mind of her company, she expressed deep regrets over the failed concert, maintaining that the company will ‘‘never’’ secure the services f the 50 year-old diva again. ‘‘We chose her because of her wide fan base in Nigeria, but we were completely disappointed by her actions when she came over. Our main regret is the disappointment felt by all those who came to watch her perform and were disappointed’’.

Baker had ignored a high-profile audience waiting to see her perform at the Expo centre, Lagos on Saturday August 30, after her reps said she was uncomfortable with the hall arrangement and technical quality.

No one has been able to say whether a clause in her contract, or a rider to the organisers specified her preference for theatre-style settings as opposed to the banquet style which is characteristic of most high profile events in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the organisers continue to make refunds to disappointed guests, as they count their losses and hope to get back a large chunk of Anita Baker’s fees to cushion part of the losses.

Senate Recess Delays New Ministers’ Appointment

Nigerians anxiously aw-aiting President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s new cabinet will have to wait a little more.
However, the list of the prospective ministers is ready and only waiting for the Senate, which is at present on recess, for the confirmation of the nominees.
Briefing State House correspondents at the end of yesterday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, which lasted exactly two hours and presided over by President Yar’Adua, the Minister of Communications and Information John Odey said the announcement of a new cabinet would be done at the President’s discretion.
Asked if the cabinet reshuffle was discussed at the FEC meeting, Odey said: “Definitely, there is a way forward because council resolutions have been passed today and the structure as listed to you has been approved.”
On when to expect the new cabinet, the minister replied, “That is at the pleasure of Mr. President. All cabinet ministers and members are at the pleasure of Mr. President and of course that will be done by Mr. President himself.”
But the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Olusegun Ade-niyi, said in a chat with State House correspondents last night that the ministerial list had been completed and was only waiting for the Senate, which at present is on recess, to confirm the new ministers.
“Well, the cabinet reshuffle is not a public relations gambit for the President. It is based on the need to galvanise government and improve on service delivery by identifying areas where there ought to be changes and bringing in new talents that would do the job.
“That process I can assure you is completed but since the Senate, which is the confirming authority, is currently on recess, there is no wisdom in creating vacuums at a period finishing touches are being put on the 2009 budget.
“The better part of next week is public holiday, so there is no hurry and I know the President to be a very painstaking person when it comes to crucial decisions as in this instance. And perhaps to assure you I have not been gagged, you can quote me on that, there will be a ministerial reshuffle,” he added.
However, the fate of ministers nominated from the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) remains unknown in the impending cabinet reshuffle as their political parties are yet to be contacted.
Two ministers from ANPP and one from PPA are currently serving in the President Yar’Adua’s Gover-nment of National Unity (GNU).
The National Chairman of ANPP, Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke, told THISDAY last night that his party was yet to be contacted on the impending cabinet changes.
“We are members of the GNU, but I can tell you that up till this moment, the President is yet to contact us on the planned cabinet changes. We nominated ministers to the GNU and therefore we ought to know what is happening. Though we defer to him that as the Commander-in-Chief and President, he may choose not to contact us,” the ANPP chairman said but refused to accept that the refusal of the President to contact the party was responsible for the latest outburst against PDP.
He insisted that PDP was a cancerous political party without any idea to move Nigeria forward.
A source from the office of PPA National Chairman also told THISDAY that the party was yet to be contacted.
Also yesterday, Adeniyi denied insinuations in some section of the media that Tuesday’s oath of secrecy administered on political office holders serving in the State House meant they were being gagged.
He said: “It’s been discovered that the special advisers and the chief economic adviser were not supposed to be part of the oath taking as they like ministers and permanent secretaries had already been sworn in by the President.
“The oath taking is a public service ritual that ought to be in our file and it was the new State House Permanent Secretary who discovered the omission on the part of many of us and insisted we all had to do it. While it imposes responsibility on public officials, it is not an attempt to gag anybody and I can say categorically that nobody can gag me.
“I have even discovered that there was an error because the oath of secrecy is not for myself, the Chief Economic Adviser and other special advisers who, like ministers and permanent secretaries, had already been sworn in by the President.
“If it was an attempt to muzzle the media as it is being erroneously interpreted to mean, why would we make it public and allow the event to be covered by the same media? That is not realistic. I allowed reporters in because there was nothing to hide otherwise, we could have done it secretly. The truth is that it was a mere procedural thing and the idea that it is targeted at the media is not, and cannot be correct. I would never be part of such an exercise and neither would the President allow such to happen,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday approved the restructuring of federal ministries, which increased the number of the ministries from 22 to 28, as announced September 10.
FEC also granted approvals for the awards of some contracts which included contract for the completion of the University of Abuja Permanent Site’s core ring road project in favour of Messrs Exsa (Nig) Ltd, in the sum of N57,430,424.86.
The initial cost of the project was about N642 million before the contractor was asked to carry out variation as there was no fund to continue the project which had at that time reached about 65 per cent completion stage.
Another contract awarded was the one for sole sourcing of surveying and geomatic equipment for three universities in favour of Messrs Geoqinetiq Limited in the sum of N496, 502,150.58.
University of Lagos, University of Nigeria, Nsukka and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria were the three beneficiaries under the second phase of the project.
The phase one of the project covers four institutions; Kaduna Polytechnic, Federal School of Survey, Oyo, Federal Polytechnic, Damaturu and Federal Polytechnic Nekede were approved by FEC last year.
The project which is in response to the President’s initiative of revamping Technical and Vocational Education (TVE) is under the sponsorship of Education Trust Fund (ETF).
The purpose, according to Odey, is to develop and deliver a geomatics capacity building initiative to transform seven institutions of higher learning as identified by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and ETF, into world class geomatics centres of excellence.
FEC also gave anticipatory approval for a credit worth $250million and $200million for the proposed 3rd National Fadama Development Project (FADAMA III) and support of Community and Social Development Project (CSDP).
The total project cost for the FADAMA III project is $450 million out of which $250 million is IDA credit.
The highly concessional credit facility has 0.75 per cent service charge per annum on the amount withdrawn and it is payable over 40 years with a grace period of 10 years.
The balance will be sourced among the three tiers of government as follows: Federal Government $23 million, state governments $77 million, Local Government $40 million and communities $60 million.
The minister said 20 per cent of the communities contribution would be in kind (materials and labour) while Global Environment Facility (GEF) is expected to provide grant in the sum of $7million.
The objective of the proposed FADAMA III project, according to Odey, is to increase the incomes of users of rural water resources on a sustainable basis.
He noted that the project has six components that would be executed by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources over a period of five years (2009-2013).
The 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are expected to benefit from the project.
The community project, which is targeted at promoting the use of participatory planning, budgetary and monitoring process is aimed at increasing the access of the poor rural people to improve social and natural resource infrastructure services.
According to the minister, the project fits into the programmes of NEEDS, President Yar’Adua’s 7-point Agenda and the country Partnership Strategy Framework agreed with World Bank and DFID.
The credit, he further said, would be on lent to participating states on the same terms and conditions in which they are offered by IDA to the Federal Government.
However, a subsidiary Credit Agreement is to be executed between the Federal Government and the participating 24 states.
But in what appears to be a subtle protest over the United Nation’s non-recognition of Nigeria’s contributions to the South-South Development Cooperation (SSDC), FEC frowned on the UN Secretary-General’s 2007/2008 speeches, which did not reflect the country’s contribution. thisdayonline

Nigeria has potentials to lead the world — Israeli envoy

Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Moshe Ram, has posited that Nigeria has the material and human resources to be the leading country in the world. Ambassador Ram said this in Osogbo, Osun State, yesterday when he called on Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola.
He said with the endowment of natural resources, Nigeria could be atop if the resources were properly harnessed.

Ram opined that what his nation, Israel, lacked in natural resources, it has in human resources, which, according to him, had been used to turn round its fortune.

With commitment and development of the educational sector, the Ambassador said Nigerians too could positively change the face of their country.

Ram, who commended Oyinlola for the development of the state, said the country could better be appreciated when every part is touched.

“Nigeria can better be appreciated when one visits other parts outside Abuja. This is a great country.”
In his remarks, Oyinlola noted that his administration’s partnership with Israel had been successful.
According to him, no nation could be developed without recourse to education, adding that his administration has given adequate attention to the sector.

The governor added that a number of exchange programmes had taken place between the state and Israel in the areas of education, agriculture and others.

He said efforts would always be made to foster broader unity for the benefit of the country and Israel.
Meanwhile, a memorandum of understanding has been signed between an Israeli firm and the state on waste management conversion worth $10millon. vanguard online

Ace broadcaster, Yinka Craig, dies in America

The protracted cancer of the bloodstream which has kept ace broadcaster, Yinka Craig bed-ridden for months, finally claimed his life at about 6.00a.m on Tuesday in Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America.

Craig, who has suffered greatly from the ailment, died at Mayo Clinic where he was receiving treatment thus putting a final stop to his 40 eventful years as broadcaster-producer at the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA). Aged 60, the late Craig was loved by all and sundry as he was a household name among television loving Nigerians, both old and young.He is survived by wife, Dr Kehinde Craig and three children.

It would be recalled that the late Yinka Craig battled with his ailment for months before the Lagos State government donated the sum of N15 million out of the N38 million needed for his treatment. The donation enabled Craig to be flown to America where h e was hospitalized. Following this, hopes were raised that the once bubbling and humorist broadcaster would bounce back to life and return to his beat at the N TA. It was, therefore, a tragedy to learn of his death yesterday.

Loved and highly respected by the high and the low, the late Craig was a favourite of top government functionaries, politicians, industrialists, monarchs and diplomats. He was also until his death, a man of many parts. He was known to be multi-talented, quick-witted and incredibly knowledgeable about many things. He exhibited his knowledge about astronomy and space technology, as well as computer science, outside entertainment for which he was most popular. Aside this, Craig was equally knowledgeable about sports, politics and oil explorations.

He was, among others, a comedian with an incredible mastery of rib-cracking anecdotes, just as he was an entertainer extra-ordinaire and a talented instrumentalist – he used to play the guitar the same way he was perfect on the piano and saxophone. He was also a singer and composer aside being a voracious reader.

As a thorough professional, the late Craig spent most part of his life in radio and television. He was an outstanding broadcaster with a knack for innovative programmes. He was a major and favourite anchor of such programmes as Newsline, Sports and AM Express. One of his closest friends who was quite devastated by Craig’s ailment described him as “a broadcaster who warmed the hearts of his audience with his immutable style of presentation, genteel humor and a characteristic toothy smile. His 40 years in broadcasting, from the days of the old WNBS, is almost as old as the history of broadcasting in independent Nigeria.”

In a prompt reaction to Craig’s death, Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State said yesterday that Craig’s exit is not just a great loss to the state, but also to the country and the journalism profession.
Daniel, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Wale Adedayo, also observed that the late Craig could be listed among the first 11 who have done the country proud in his chosen profession.

According to Daniel, Craig was “one of the first 11 of TV professionals in Nigeria. His passion, professionalism and sense of patriotism in a profession that prides itself as an epitome of quality service was almost without equal…” We pray that Almighty will grant his family, friends and colleagues the fortitude to bear the loss.”

However, all efforts by Daily Sun to contact his family proved abortive yesterday as a close friend informed of the incident. The man who spoke anonymously confirmed Craig’s death but declined to comment or give his tributes saying “we are just trying to contact his wife (Dr Kehinde Craig) and I don’t think we should start lamenting his death on the pages of the newspaper.”

Also, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, described the death of the sportscaster, as shocking and a great loss to Nigeria. Fashola, in a press statement signed by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Oyeyemi Bamidele, said the renowned broadcaster would be greatly missed by Lagosians having lived all his life, and attained professional excellence in Lagos.
While expressing his condolence to the bereaved family and friends, Governor Fashola, beseeched God Almighty grants them the strength to bear the loss.

Also expressing pains and shock at the demise of the T.V presenter, his former colleague and ex-Director General, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Alhaji Danladi Bako, described Craig as a quintessential gentleman.
“He remains one of the most efferverescecy, most professional and most irrepressible broadcaster, Nigeria ever had. He knew a bit of everything and everything about a bit,” Danladi noted.courtesy sunonile

JEREMY PIVEN REVEALS HIS ACCEPTANCE SPEECH OMISSION!

A beaming Jeremy Piven spoke to ET backstage at the Emmy Awards moments after he won the Best Supporting Comedy Actor award for his role playing Ari Gold on HBO's "Entourage."
Watch Jeremy continue his acceptance speech to our cameras, in which he explains that he forgot to thank the cast and crew of "Entourage" while on the Emmy stage. He also tells ET about his silent, heartfelt thank you to his father!
Sunday's award is Jeremy's third Emmy win in the same category for the series. etonline

TED MCGINLEY AND INNA BRAYER OUSTED FROM 'DWTS'

They're second to go!
Their dancing days are numbered! Actor Ted McGinley and his pro partner Inna Brayer became the second pair to get voted off "Dancing with the Stars."
"I'm gonna miss everybody, it's been a lot of fun," Ted said on Wednesday night's results show. "I know there's a lot of guys at home on the couch with a beer in hand having a chuckle at me -- and thank you for that."
"I'm so proud of him," Inna admired. "He's come such a long way."
Toni Braxton and Alec Mazo were the other pair seemingly up for elimination, prompting judge Len Goodman to say: "This shows that nobody's safe. Anybody can be in the bottom two!"
Musical performances by Jesse McCartney and the Jonas Brothers lifted spirits -- Joe Jonas even danced mid-song for a few beats!