Muhammadu Buhari Sworn In As President Of Nigeria

Nigeria’s new President Muhammadu Buhari was sworn in on Friday, becoming the first opposition figure to win a presidential election in the country’s recent history.

The inauguration ceremony took place at the Eagle Square, Abuja, and had in attendance several African heads of state as well as Secretary of State John F. Kerry, who led the U.S. delegation to the ceremony in a demonstration of the Obama administration’s readiness to strengthen ties between Nigeria and the United States.

Buhari, 72, a former military ruler, takes over from Goodluck Jonathan, who has ruled Africa’s most populous country since May 2010. Buhari defeated Jonathan in the last presidential elections by 15.4 million votes to 12.9 million.

Buhari has a tough task ahead of him. Among other things, he will have to tackle insurgency from Boko Haram militants and stamp out corruption which escalated to unprecedented levels during Jonathan’s tenure. He also faces economic problems; falling oil prices have significantly slashed Nigeria’s revenues, and Buhari will have to find new ways to diversify the country’s economy to reduce its huge dependence on oil exports.

FIFA Corruption Scandal: What Happens Next?

The unprecedented twin investigations into FIFA have demonstrated that the opaque organization is subject to the law, not above it.

The Swiss are looking into the controversial 2018 and 2022 World Cup soccer bids, which awarded the games to Russia and Qatar respectively.

The Americans have outlined a case that sounds like a mafia movie script, with allegations of fraud, racketeering and money laundering over a period of more than 20 years. Several senior FIFA officials are among the defendants facing extradition from Europe, South America and the Caribbean.

"This really is the World Cup of fraud," said Richard Weber, head of the IRS Criminal Investigation division.

Soccer is the most popular sport in the world, with 240 million people regularly playing the game, according to FIFA's own estimate. Even in a nation like the United States, traditionally considered indifferent to soccer, interest is growing. More Americans watched last year's U.S.-Portugal World Cup game than watched the 2014 NBA Finals or the 2013 baseball World Series.

The bombshell announcement of the U.S. indictments was met with the sense that somebody was finally doing something substantial about the corruption allegations that have dogged soccer's global gatekeeper for years.

"We could make a case that this is the biggest sports bust in history today," USA Today Sports columnist Christine Brennan told CNN. "This is historic. This is monumental."

So, what comes next in the investigations?

Here are some of the key questions:

What will happen with the extraditions?

Seven of the 14 defendants wanted by U.S. officials were arrested in Zurich, Switzerland, on Wednesday, said U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch. The majority of them are contesting extradition to the United States, according to Swiss authorities.

The battle is set to play out in Swiss courts.

"I think there's a very good chance there will be extradition," said CNN legal analyst Paul Callan. Although he noted that Swiss authorities refused to extradite filmmaker Roman Polanski to the United States in 2010. Polanski's case is still rumbling on in the Swiss courts.

"There are always outs under these extradition treaties," Callan said.

Extradition proceedings have also begun in Argentina and Trinidad and Tobago for defendants named in the U.S. indictment.

Are there more arrests in the pipeline?

U.S. law enforcement officials say they're not done yet.

The indictment unsealed Wednesday "is the beginning of our work, not the end" of an effort to rid global soccer of corruption, said Kelly Currie, acting U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York.

The people indicted Wednesday were all linked to soccer in the Americas, but it was unclear where the investigation might focus next and whom it might target.

Swiss authorities, meanwhile, are conducting their own investigation into bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

The Swiss aren't as far along in their investigation as the Americans, but officials say they suspect criminal mismanagement and money laundering took place during the selection process.

Authorities raided FIFA's head office in Zurich on Wednesday, seizing electronic data and documents. Police plan to question 10 members of FIFA's executive committee who took part in voting in 2010 on the World Cup bids.

Will the Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022 World Cups be moved?

That still seems unlikely at this point.

FIFA has already announced the results of its own investigation into the bidding process for the two competitions, saying it found no corruption and had no reason to reopen the bidding process. (Although Michael Garcia, the American lawyer who led the investigation, said FIFA's public summary of his report was "incomplete and erroneous.")

FIFA spokesman Walter De Gregorio said Wednesday that the two World Cups would go ahead as planned despite the Swiss investigation.

Holding the 2022 World Cup in the desert emirate of Qatar has already drawn criticism over the treatment of the migrant workers laboring to build the stadiums for the competition.

Officials have also had to change the dates of the tournament to the winter to avoid Qatar's sweltering summer heat, raising potential scheduling headaches for other soccer competitions around the world.

Qatar beat the United States and several other nations in the bidding for the 2022 World Cup. Australia, one of the other countries to lose out, has been outspoken in its criticism of the tournament dates being switched.

Will FIFA's big election go ahead this week?

The arrests of the FIFA officials in Zurich were rich in dramatic timing. They took place as representatives of the world soccer body's member associations were congregating in the city ahead of the organization's annual congress Friday.

The FIFA gathering, which this year includes a presidential election, appeared to have helped U.S. authorities by enabling them to have a large number of the defendants rounded up in the same extradition-friendly country.

The announcement of the U.S. and Swiss investigations prompted the executive committee of UEFA, European soccer's governing body, to call for the congress to be postponed and election to be held at some point in the next six months.

UEFA leaders said European soccer associations would have to "consider carefully if they should even attend this Congress" and would be holding a meeting Thursday to "decide on what further steps need to be taken to protect the game of football."

But FIFA's De Gregorio insisted Wednesday that the congress was sticking to its agenda.

The question is whether any of the other members or confederations will follow UEFA's lead.

Is Sepp Blatter going to win yet again?

Despite the scandal rocking FIFA, its incumbent president, who's held the top job for the past 17 years, appears set to maintain his grip on power.

Bookmakers still have him as firm favorite to defeat his only remaining challenger, Prince Ali bin Al Hussein of Jordan, and secure a fifth term.

Blatter is not one of those arrested or facing charges from U.S. authorities, but he was among those investigated.

Asked if the U.S. investigation had cleared Blatter, Lynch said, "I'm not able to comment further on Mr. Blatter's status." Officials said earlier Wednesday that the investigation into Blatter's possible involvement continues.

Blatter is "calm" and "fully cooperative" with the Swiss investigation into the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids, De Gregorio said.

"He is not a happy man, he is not saying, 'Everything's cool,'" but he is glad the process is taking place because it is good for the organization, De Gregorio said.

Ali said Wednesday that FIFA needs leadership "that accepts responsibility for its actions and does not pass blame. Leadership that restores confidence in the hundreds of millions of football fans around the world."

How are FIFA's lucrative sponsors going to respond?

Some of the biggest corporate names associated with soccer have alreadyspoken out.

In a strongly worded statement late Wednesday, Visa called on the world's premier soccer organization to "take swift and immediate steps" to clean up its act.

"It is important that FIFA makes changes now," Visa said. "Should FIFA fail to do so, we have informed them that we will reassess our sponsorship."

Earlier, another major sponsor, Coca-Cola, said the "controversy has tarnished the mission and ideals of the FIFA World Cup." The company said it has "repeatedly expressed our concerns about these serious allegations."

Other multimillion dollar sponsors, including Adidas, McDonalds and Budweiser's parent company, Anheuser-Busch, also issued statements saying they were in contact with FIFA.

But it remains to be seen if any of them would go as far as severing ties.

 Culled from CNN.

Fuel Scarcity: Nigerian Economy Grounded As Communication Companies, Banks, Others Shut Offices

As Nigerians continue to suffer under the current acute fuel scarcity, Telecommunication giants like Airtel, MTN and Etisalat have shot down their operations in certain areas across the country.

As a follow up to this development, Etisalat has issued a statement, saying its services will be disrupted as a result of the continuous fuel scarcity been experienced in the country.The statement released on Monday notified its customers of a possible disruption of service, adding that management is working to ensure that the current problem is abated on time.

The statement further appealed to affected customers to bear with management of Etisalat over the development.

Relatively, in a text message to its customer, Airtel, another telecommunication network whose service is currently been affected by the fuel scarcity, appealed for understanding on the part of the customers, while assuring them that efforts are on to turn the situation around.

In its message to customers, Airtel says, “Dear Valued Customer, this is to inform you that due to nationwide fuel crisis, our services may experience some strain. We are doing everything possible to manage the situation. Thank you for understanding.”

MTN Nigerian has equally notified it’s subscribers of a major disruption of its network if the situation continues unabated.

Commercial banks in the country are also closing offices. The first to announce the development is Guaranty Trust Bank, GTB. In its announcement, it said that its branches will close at 1pm beginning from Monday across the country.

Also affected are airline operators that have temporarily put their operations on hold due to unavailability of aviation fuel.

Culled from Dailypost.ng

Just Released Single: (Electric Vibrator) by Paranormal Ft GSLIM available on reverbnation.com

Gslim and Timix, Paranormal collaborates with Gslim on this monster Hit single ELECTRIC VIBRATOR. It is a Raggae/Dancehall track with enough rhythm to stimulate your dance hormones.

NASA: Big Antarctica Ice Shelf Is Disintegrating

A huge section of Antarctica’s ice shelf is rapidly thawing, according to a just-released study by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

The loss of ice from polar caps is slowly but steadily raising the level of the Earth’s oceans, scientists say. They predict it will be only a few years before the Larsen B Ice Shelf – at 1,600 square kilometers or almost 618 square miles – completely disengages from the ground and breaks into hundreds of icebergs.

Two-thirds of the 10,000 year-old shelf is already gone, said Ala Khazendar, the study’s lead scientist. "This is a clear indication of the enormity of changes that are taking place in the Antarctic Peninsula and elsewhere in Antarctica," he said.

Ice shelves are giant frozen platforms that hang over the edges of the Antarctica continent, supported by ocean water below. The largest of them is almost as big as France.

Khazendar said three glaciers that supply the Larsen B shelf with ice are thinning and gaining speed.

"From our study, now we know that these glaciers are flowing faster and most likely they are putting more ice into the ocean," said Khazendar, who led a team at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

Using sophisticated airborne instruments, including radar, scientists already have noticed new cracks in the ice that were not there when they submitted their findings nine months ago.

The disintegration is “happening fast and it's just a matter of years,” Khazendar said.

 Culled from Voice Of America.

Diego Maradona to Lionel Messi: My Goals Were More 'Beautiful'

In Diego Maradona's world, he's still number one.

Asked by CNN anchor Becky Anderson to pick between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as to who is the world's top footballer, Argentina's former World Cup winner emphatically endorsed the Barcelona star -- but quickly worked himself into the conversation.

"The thing is, my goals were more beautiful," insisted Maradona.

However, even Maradona, who led Argentina to victory over West Germany in the 1986 World Cup final, was forced to concede the 27-year-old Messi is trumping him in the goalscoring stakes.

Messi is "killing it with his goals," admitted the 54-year-old -- a nod to Messi's prolific career scoring record of 328 and counting for Barcelona and Argentina, far outweighing Maradona's own tally of 293 for club and country.

Messi's tally includes 53 goals scored so far this season, including two in a 3-0 drubbing over Bayern Munich last week in the first leg of their European Champions League tie. Barcelona advanced to the final on Tuesday with a 5-3 aggregate score after the away leg.

Messi's performances in those two games prompted Bayern's coach Pep Guardiola to describe the diminutive forward as "the best player of all time."

Both Messi and Maradona were often the smallest men on the pitch and each wore the blue and white stripes of their country along with the unmistakable maroon of the famous Catalan club.

Quizzed as whether it is Messi's goals or his style that make him great, Maradona offered a compromise: Messi might be scoring more goals, but it's the former Napoli star who had more flair.

"I think that I had my own style from the very beginning," said the man famously known for his "Hand of God" goal against England in the 1986 World Cup. "And that is the point in which I could be better than Messi."

According to Maradona, Messi is still "finding his own style," adding: "Most likely he will find it very soon."

Maradona coached Messi at the 2010 World Cup but his contract was not renewed following Argentina's 4-0 quarterfinal defeat to Germany.

Three years ago, Maradona was sacked by United Arab Emirates club Al-Wasl after only 14 months in charge.

He arrived in Dubai on a lucrative contract in May 2011, but could only manage to take Al-Wasl to eighth place in the 12-team UAE Pro-League -- which resulted in the club's board resigning.

Maradona was not given the chance to continue his two-year tenure by the new board.

He is one of the greatest players in soccer history, having helped Napoli win two Italian league titles after a difficult two-year stay at Barcelona -- both clubs signed him for world-record fees.

But his career was marred by controversy over drug use -- he was thrown out of the 1994 World Cup after testing positive for ephedrine -- and he suffered from subsequent health problems.

Culled from CNN.

North Korean Leader Kim Jong-Un Executes Defence Minister Publicly.

North Korea's defence minister has been publicly executed with an anti-aircraft gun for falling asleep during military meetings and answering back to leader Kim Jong-Un.

Hyon Yong-Chol, 66, who was named head of North Korea's military in 2012, was killed in front of hundreds of bloodthirsty officials at a military camp in the capital Pyongyang on April 30.

It is not the first time a ZPU-4 anti-aircraft gun has been used for executions in North Korea, with recently released satellite images showing a number of unidentified people being killed using the brutal method at the same camp last October. 

Han Ki-Beom, deputy director of South Korea's National Intelligence Agency, told a parliamentary committee that hundreds of officials watched the execution in Pyongyang on April 30. 

The intelligence service told politicians that Hyon was killed by an anti-aircraft gun at Kang Kon Military Academy - a method cited in various unconfirmed reports as being reserved for senior officials who the leadership wishes to make examples of.

Hyon was apparently caught falling asleep during formal military events and is said to have also spoken back to Kim Jong-Un on several occasions.

Lawmaker Shin Kyoung-min, who attended the parliamentary briefing during which news of the execution was announced, said the NIS believed it to be true.

Hong Hyun-ik, chief researcher at the Sejong Institute, a security think tank based in Seoul, told local broadcaster YTN that the anti-artillery gun used would have left the body utterly unrecognizable.

'Because there are several guns bound together, it would be hard to find the body after firing it once. It's really gruesome. What they did would have ripped all his flesh off, done in the manner of 'let's see what sort of punishment this is.' 

The execution was initially reported by South Korea's Yonhap news agency, although reports from North Korea are impossible to independently confirm.

The lawmakers said Hyon was executed at a firing range at the Kanggon Military Training Area, which is located 14 miles north of the capital Pyongyang. 

The satellite pictures revealed for the first time that Kim's regime were using anti-aircraft weapons to brutally execute people in front on hundreds of people.

The images, which have been released by the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea and AllSource Analysis, were taken in October last year.

They appear to show six ZPU-4 anti-aircraft guns being used to shoot a line of people stood 100 yards away, with a viewing platform located nearby.

Outraged critics said the victims would have been 'pulverised' by the artillery fire, in what they described as the latest example of brutality employed by the dictator to suppress his own people.

Hyon was last known to have spoken publicly at a security conference in Moscow in April, but is said to have shown disrespect to Kim by dozing off at a subsequent military event.

He was also believed to have stood up to and publicly complained about Kim, and had not ignored official orders on multiple occasions, according to the lawmakers.

Hyon is understood to have been arrested late last month and executed three days later without legal proceedings.

Hyon is believed to have been a military general since 2010 and served on the committee for late leader Kim Jong-il's funeral in December 2011, before becoming defence minister.

In North Korea, the defence minister is mainly in charge of logistics and international exchanges. 

Policy-making is handled by the powerful National Defence Commission and the party Central Military Commission.

Since taking power upon the death of his dictator father in late 2011, Kim Jong Un has orchestrated a series of purges in apparent efforts to bolster his grip on power. 

Experts on North Korea said there was no sign of instability in Pyongyang, but there could be if the purges continued.

Kim ordered the execution of 15 senior officials this year as punishment for challenging his authority, according to the NIS. In all, around 70 officials have been executed since Kim took over after his father's death in 2011, Yonhap news agency cited the NIS as saying.

Analysts are split on whether the bloody power shifts indicate a young leader in firm control, or someone still struggling to establish himself.

'North Korean internal politics is very volatile these days. Internally, there does not seem to be any respect for Kim Jong Un within the core and middle levels of the North Korean leadership,' said Michael Madden, an expert on the country's leadership and contributor to the 38 North think tank.

'There is no clear or present danger to Kim Jong Un's leadership or regime stability, but if this continues to happen into next year, then we should seriously start to think about revising our scenarios on North Korea,' he added.

Koh Yu-hwan, a North Korea leadership expert at Dongguk University in Seoul, said the regime could 'reach its limit' if Kim's purges continued, but added: 'it's still too early to tell.'

North Korea is one of the most insular countries in the world and its ruling power structure is highly opaque. The current leader is the third generation of the Kim family that has ruled with near-absolute power since the country was established in 1948.

In 2013, Kim purged and executed his uncle, Jang Song Thaek, once considered the second most powerful man in Pyongyang's leadership circle, for factionalism and committing crimes damaging to the economy, along with a group of officials close to him.

Culled from DailyMail UK.

Burundi President Nkurunziza Faces Attempted Coup

A coup attempt has been launched in Burundi to try to overthrow President Pierre Nkurunziza, amid unrest over his bid to be re-elected to a third term.

Thousands of people in the capital, Bujumbura, celebrated the announcement by Major General Godefroid Niyombare.

But the coup outcome is far from clear.

The presidency says the coup has been foiled and the perpetrators will be brought to justice. Mr Nkurunziza has now left a summit in Tanzania and is reportedly trying to return to Burundi.

Gen Niyombare said in a radio address he had ordered "the closure of the airport and border, and I ask every citizen and law enforcement down to the airport to protect it".

Mr Nkurunziza had been meeting other East African leaders to discuss the crisis. Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete said the summit condemned the coup.

A statement from the Burundi presidency said: "It is with regret that we have learned that a group from the armed forces mutinied this morning and declared an imaginary coup.

"This coup attempt has been foiled and that these people, who read the coup announcement on the radio, are being hunted by defence and security forces so that they can be brought to justice."

A presidential spokesman said Mr Nkurunziza would address the nation on his return and was not afraid.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged all parties to exercise restraint.

The BBC's Maud Jullien in Bujumbura says thousands of protesters marched to the city centre alongside soldiers and two tanks after the coup was announced.

Police shot at the soldiers and the crowd. At least two protesters were killed.

What I can see right now is a lot of police checks on the road, they are stopping every vehicle, ensuring that those travelling are not carrying any weapons. We can see truckloads of army personnel driving past where I am standing, perhaps trying to get them to military bases.

When the general made the announcement there was a mixed reaction and some gunfire around the capital. In some parts there was panic and fear; people were running to safety, locking themselves into any building they could find. But there were also those who were celebrating, saying that this is what they wanted.

The protesters continued to march, one telling the BBC this was a victory after weeks of protests.

They reached the offices of the state broadcaster which was still in the control of soldiers loyal to the president.

Some reports say the loyalists and those supporting the coup are now in negotiations but this was denied by the presidency.

BBC reporters in the capital say that protesters have broken into the national jail and have released detained demonstrators, before burning down the building.

All international flights into and out of Bujumbura are currently cancelled.

Culled from BBC.

Airport X-ray Discovers 8-year-Old Boy in Suitcase

Bundled up tightly in a fetal position, an 8-year-old boy from the Ivory Coast survived several hours locked in a suitcase in a botched smuggling attempt into Spain.

A police spokesman who cannot be identified for security reasons told CNN that the boy -- who is now in Spanish custody -- was discovered Thursday in El Tarajal, a terrestrial point of entry at Spain's border with Morocco.

Police are still not sure how long the young boy spent tucked into the pink, medium-sized polyester suitcase, pressed against a few personal belongings.

"He was shocked when we opened the suitcase to see so many people looking at him," the spokesman said. But the boy is in good condition, he said.

This is the first time they have found this type of smuggling, the spokesman said, in which a child was locked into a container. There have been a few attempts by adults to sneak into Spain by hiding in other types of containers, he said.

On Thursday, police officers in El Tarajal became suspicious when a 21-year-old woman, a Moroccan National, showed signs of nervousness as she attempted to cross the border wheeling the suitcase down the street.

"Our officers asked her if she needed help as the wheels began to give in," the spokesman said.

Suspecting a drug smuggling case, police brought the suitcase in for an x-ray. That is when they found the boy.

He was immediately taken to a state child custodian and awaits judicial process, the official said.

A man who is apparently his father, identified as A.O., was arrested a few hours after the boy was found. The man, who has permanent residency in Spain, awaits formal charges.

 Culled from CNN.

Another Nigerian Soldier Lieutenant MI Musa Dies on The Line of Duty.

Lt MI Musa

Lieutenant MI Musa was killed yesterday while serving his country! He was killed in action! May his soul RIP!

Manny Pacquiao Has Shoulder Surgery After Floyd Mayweather Pounding

Manny Pacquiao is expected to make a full recovery after undergoing surgery on his right shoulder, the Filipino's publicist confirmed Tuesday.

Pacquiao had the operation in San Francisco following his defeat to Floyd Mayweather in the megabucks "Fight of the Century" on Saturday.

Surgeon Dr. Neal El Attrache said he could not be "more pleased with the results."

The 36-year-old Filipino suffered the injury during training for his bout against Mayweather.

Even if the prognosis for Pacquiao's recovery is optimistic, the injury could yet prove costly for the boxer.

The former eight-division world champion is being sued amid accusations he lied about the injury in the build-up to the fight with Mayweather, claims the Pacquiao camp denies.

The Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) denied Pacquiao a pain-killing injection in the build-up to the fight and is considering disciplinary action against him.

NAC is reportedly considering disciplinary action against Pacquiao for not disclosing the injury in a form ahead of the fight.

Given the huge interest in last weekend's meeting, the undefeated Mayweather is reportedly open to a rematch with Pacquiao in a year's time.

Culled from CNN.

Christiano Ronaldo Donates 7million Euros to Victims Of Nepal Earthquake

Portuguese and Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo donated seven million euros to help all those who were affected by the earthquake in Nepal. Three days after the event,and as the human casualties increased, Cristiano Ronaldo used his Twitter feed to ask his fans to help all those people that were left homeless or need medical relief.

How to Program Your Mind to Attract What You Want By Jack Canfield

We all aspire to be, do and have great things. Yet most of us simply aren’t creating the results we want. We don’t have enough money, romance, success or joy in our lives. But what we need to understand is that greatness exists in all of us. It is simply up to us to pull it out of ourselves. We all have genius. We just need to learn how to apply it.

Decide What You Want
In order to get what you want, you must first decide what you want. Most people really foul up at this crucial first step because they simply can’t see how it’s possible to get what they want — so they don’t even let themselves want it.

Don’t sabotage yourself that way!

What scientists now know about how the brain works is that you must first decide WHAT you want, before your brain can figure out HOW to get it. Once you lock-in your desires, your mind and the universe can step in.

Are you ready to get started?

Be Willing to Dream Big Dreams
As soon as you commit to a big dream and really go after it, your subconscious creative mind will come up with big ideas to make it happen. You’ll start attracting the people, resources, and opportunities you need into your life to make your dream come true. Big dreams not only inspire you, they compel others to want to play big, too.

Set Goals That Will Stretch You
Another value in giving yourself permission to go after the big dreams is that big dreams require you to grow in order to achieve them. In fact, in the long run, that is the greatest benefit you will receive from pursuing your dreams — not so much the outer trappings of fulfilling the dream (an expensive car, impressive house, loads of money and philanthropic opportunities), but who you become in the process.

As I’ve seen many times over, the outer symbols of success, can all be easily lost. Houses burn down, companies go bankrupt, relationships end in divorce, cars get old, bodies age and fame wanes, but who you are, what you have learned and the new skills you have developed never go away. These are the true prizes of success. Motivational philosopher, Jim Rohn advises that “You should set a goal big enough that in the process of achieving it, you become someone worth becoming.”

Service to Others
Something else you’ll discover is that when your dreams include service to others — accomplishing something that contributes to others — it also accelerates the accomplishment of that goal. People want to be part of something that contributes and makes a difference.

Turn Your Dreams into Goals and Objectives
Once you are clear about what you want, you must turn each item into a measurable objective. By measurable, I mean measurable in space and time — how much and by when. For instance, if you were to tell me that you wanted more money, I might pull out a dollar and give it to you, but you would probably protest, saying “No, I meant a lot more money — like $20,000!” Well, how am I supposed to know unless you tell me? Similarly, your boss, your friends, your spouse, your brain — God, the Universe — can’t figure out what you want unless you tell them specifically what it is. What do you want — exactly — and when do you want it by?

Write Your Goals Down
Write your goals down in detail, and read your list of goals every day. This will keep your subconscious mind focused on what you want. For an even more powerful approach, close your eyes and focus on each goal and ask yourself, "What is one thing I could do today to move toward the achievement of this goal?" Write down your answers and take those actions.

To help your reticular activating system begin finding YOUR wants in unexpected places, take time now to decide what you want and start writing!

Remember, don't hold back!

Nigeria Senate Finally Passes The Bill of Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) After 13 Years.

AFTER a 13-year sojourn in the National Assembly, the Violence Against Persons’ Prohibition, VAPP, Bill 2014, was finally passed yesterday by the Nigerian Senate.

It took the Senate exactly 22 minutes to pass all 46 clauses contained in the bill.

The approval gives legal teeth to enact a law to eliminate, or reduce to a minimum, cases of sexual, domestic and indeed all forms of gender-based violence in the country.

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who took charge of proceedings for at the day’s plenary, described the passage as “an achievement.”
His words: “It is the primary responsibility of the executive to protect the lives and property of its citizens, especially against violence, while ours (the legislature) is to enact laws to support such responsibility.”

A clause-to-clause consideration of the bill, which started on April 14, suffered initial hiccup following observations that Clause 1 of the bill had issues with the term of imprisonment for under-aged sexual offenders.



http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/05/senate-finally-passes-vapp-bill/

Floyd Mayweather And Money By Anthony Robbins

 

Have you ever found that no matter how much money you earn, you seem to find a way to spend it? We all seem to have a way of living up to our means, and, for some of us, a way of living beyond our means. Spending more than we earn — it’s an affliction that we’ve seen time and time again. And we see this most notably in the celebrities who manage to make a fortune, and then, somehow, they lose it all. Just take a look at five-division world champion Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr.

Mayweather came from poverty in Michigan to be named the highest-paid athlete in the world. He poured blood, sweat and tears into his career as a professional boxer, working relentlessly to climb to the top. And now, in the much-anticipated fight against Manny Pacquiao, Mayweather will make a reported $180 million — it is the richest fight in history. 

It would seem that Mayweather has more money than he would know what to do with, but he has certainly put that idea to the test in the past. Notorious for his exorbitant spending spreesand reckless financial behavior, Mayweather reportedly spends up to $75 million a year, a habit which has landed him in some serious financial trouble in recent years, defaulting on loans and incurring penalties from the IRS for unpaid taxes.

Make no mistake, Mayweather is an extraordinarily gifted athlete with a ridiculous work ethic. He earned every single dollar he made. But his money mentality is earn and spend. Rapper 50 Cent, Mayweather’s former business partner, has simplified the boxer’s financial strategy: “It’s fight, get the money, spend the money, fight. Fight, get the money, spend the money, fight.” If he stops fighting, the money machine stops, the cash flow stops, his income stops — his financial world comes to a grinding halt.

If you think Floyd Mayweather may be an extreme example in the case of frivolous spending, consider the countless other celebrities whose poor financial decisions have landed them in financial distress. Consider legendary baseball pitcher Curt Schilling, who poured his savings into a video game startup that went belly-up, bringing the pro ball player down with it. Or what about Elton John, whose frivolous spending habits landed him in bankruptcy. And the list continues, with stars like Marvin Gaye, Willie Nelson, Kim Basinger, Nicholas Cage, Francis Ford Coppola and Michael Jackson — all of whom have felt the pain of a earn-and-spend money mentality. 

Sound ridiculous? Sure, it’s difficult for most people to imagine blowing a fortune. But unfortunately, we can all relate on some level. We work, we get the money, we spend the money, we work again. It’s the mistake that millions of Americans make, no matter what income bracket they find themselves in. 

As Tony notes in this video interview with Entrepreneur, it’s time to face the facts; it’s difficult to earn our way to wealth. We think that if we work harder, smarter and longer, we’ll achieve our financial dreams, but a paycheck alone — no matter how immense — is not the answer. But what you can do is make a simple, yet powerful change in strategy and embrace an entirely new mindset. 

You have to make the shift from just working for money to a world where your money works for you. Tapping the power of compound interest, strategic asset allocation, annuities and municipal bonds, for example, can help you make the game winnable. Because the goal is to build a money machine that ultimately can take your place, that can make money while you sleep and never runs dry. When you achieve that, not only will you have greater financial security, you’ll have financial freedom, and that Is something you simply cannot put a price on. 

How Old Do You Really Look? This Website Will Tell You In Seconds

You're only as old as you think you are.

Or in this case, as old as a computer algorithm thinks you are.

In a machine learning experiment that's taken social vanity to new heights, Microsoft has created the website http://how-old.net  that tells you how old you look just by analyzing your photo.

Sometimes it's dead on. Other times it's hilariously, outrageously wrong.

It's simple: Upload a selfie, wait a few seconds -- then the machine gives you a number.

And since it can analyze anyone's photo, you can compare yourself to your friends, family, and foes.

But guessing someone's age is a dangerous game, even for a robot. That's probably why the site comes with a sheepish apology. "Sorry if we didn't quite get the age and gender right," it says after each result.

The company unveiled the website at a conference Thursday as a way to show off its new software.

Part of a new initiative called Project Oxford, Microsoft says you could use this face detection technology for tasks like sorting through a large photo collection.

But we're human -- so we'll probably just use it to judge our own looks.

Culled from CNN

5 Powerful Strategies To Help You Achieve Any Goal By Jack Canfield

Now that we’re into May and the first quarter of 2015 is over, it’s time to revisit your intentions for the year and take stock of what you've accomplished so far.

Think back to January... What were the main goals or intentions you set for yourself or your business this year? How many have you crossed off the list or made significant progress toward achieving?

If you’re falling behind schedule or finding it hard to stay focused on your big goals, here are five of my most powerful Success Principles to help you recharge your motivation and sense of purpose – and move closer to achieving success with every action and decision you make.

Consider it a spring tune-up for your intentions!

 1. Practice persistence

What’s the one common attribute high achievers share above anything else? PERSISTENCE. When they have a goal, they simply refuse to give up until they reach it – no matter what roadblocks life throws in their way.

Consider the story of Admiral Robert Peary, who attempted to reach the North Pole seven times before he finally succeeded on try number eight. Or screenwriter Craig Borten, who wrote the screenplay for Dallas Buyers Club in 1992 and struggled for 20 years to get his script turned into a movie – which became a huge success and won numerous awards, including the Oscar for best original screenplay.

You can read about them and many other ordinary people who have persevered to achieve extraordinary success in The Success Principles, Chapter 22: Practice Persistence. I encourage you to review this chapter so you can learn from their examples and be inspired by their stories. It’s a great way to reignite your own motivation!

2. Face what isn’t working

If you are going to become more successful, you have to get out of denial and face isn’t working in your life. Are your goals simply too big to accomplish in the time you have available? Are you lacking some essential skills required to achieve them? Are you in denial about the amount of support you need?

Successful people face these circumstances squarely, heed the warning signs, and take appropriate action, no matter how uncomfortable or challenging it might be.

Do you need to talk to someone? Ask someone for help? Find a new resource? Read a book? Call an expert? Make a plan to fix it?

Choose one action you can take and then do it. Then keep taking another action and another action until you get the situation resolved.

3. Transcend your limiting beliefs

Sometimes the biggest reason we don’t move forward is because deep down we don’t think we’re actually capable of achieving or goals – or deserving of the success we long for.

If you have limiting beliefs or negative thoughts holding you back from reaching your goals, take some time to identify what these thoughts and beliefs are and then transform them into an empowering belief using these four steps:

1.      Write down the negative belief

2.      Describe how the belief limits you

3.      Decide how you would rather be, act, or feel

4.      Create a turnaround statement that affirms your right to be, act, or feel this new way.

For example...

Limiting belief: I have to do everything by myself. Asking for help is a sign of weakness.

Turnaround statement: It’s okay to ask for help. I am worthy or receiving all the support I need – and I know it will help me reach my goals faster.

4. Stay motivated with the masters

Motivation comes from within – but sometimes you need an external nudge to push you forward in the right direction. That’s why I’m a firm believer in reading, watching, or listening to something that motivates you every day – even if it’s only for 15 minutes.

Whether you’re commuting by car or train, riding your bike, going for a run, or simply find yourself with a few minutes in front of the computer, listening to audio or video recordings can give you the edge you need to excel in virtually any area of your life. You can keep yourself motivated, learn a language, learn management skills, learn sales and marketing strategies, learn better communication, learn about holistic health and more.

By devoting more time to developing success-oriented thoughts and attitudes, you are guaranteed to reach your goals faster.

5. Take BOLD actions to get BIG results

When you start a new project, take on a new venture, or put yourself out there, there is usually some fear. Unfortunately, most people let fear stop them from taking the necessary steps to achieve their dreams.

Successful people, on the other hand, feel the fear along with the rest of us but don’t let it keep them from doing anything they want to do – or have to do. They understand that fear is something to be acknowledged, experienced, and taken along for the ride. And they challenge themselves to take bold action, trusting that they have what it takes to handle the outcome.

That’s why I dare you to think big – and act bigger. By taking a leap of faith in the face of fear, you can transform your life.

Two things you can do right now to catapult yourself toward success

One way you could take a huge leap forward would be to sign up for my five-day personal transformation event, Breakthrough to Success. It’s the fastest guaranteed way to get clear on what you really want, breakthrough any fears, and create an achievable road plan that will launch yourself toward the life you’ve always wanted.

Or, if you dream of becoming a world-class speaker, trainer, coach, or consultant, sign up for Train the Trainer – and become a Certified Canfield Success Principles Trainer so you can learn my own experiential training methodologies and become a world-class human potential worker.

So those are my five top “spring cleaning” tips to help you recharge your intentions and keep moving closer to your ideal life with every action and decision you make.

Please share your thoughts or questions in the comments below – and if you know of anyone who would find these tips helpful, please feel free to share!