Euro 2012

Final Tournament - Group stage

• Group detail:

• A
• B
• C
• D

Group A

Teams	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	Pts
Russia	3	2	0	1	4	5	-1	6
Czech Republic	3	1	1	1	3	3	0	4
Poland	3	1	1	1	5	3	2	4
Greece	3	0	2	1	2	3	-1	2

Group B

Teams	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	Pts
Germany	3	3	0	0	5	2	3	9
Denmark	3	2	0	1	5	4	1	6
Netherlands	3	1	0	2	4	5	-1	3
Portugal	3	0	0	3	2	5	-3	0

Group C

Teams	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	Pts
Croatia	3	2	1	0	6	1	5	7
Spain	3	1	2	0	4	2	2	5
Italy	3	1	1	1	4	3	1	4
Republic of Ireland	3	0	0	3	1	9	-8	0

Group D

Teams	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	Pts
Ukraine	3	2	1	0	5	3	2	7
England	3	1	1	1	3	3	0	4
France	3	1	0	2	2	4	-2	3
Sweden	3	1	0	2	5	5	0	3

Dana Air denies negligence of crashed plane

Days after Dana Air’s Flight 0992 crashed in the Iju-Ishaga area of Lagos state, killing all 153 passengers on board, the management of the airline has come out to refute alleged claims of negligence.

Dana Airlines Managing director, Mr Jacky Haithiramani at a press conference on Thursday June 7th 2012, explained that regular checks are usually carried out on the airline’s fleet before being certified fit to fly and the MD 83 aircraft was not left out.

Mr Haithiramani refuted the claim that the ill-fated plane had faults and was grounded in Calabar, adding that the airline’s engineer also died in the accident, thereby ruling out the allegation that the aircraft was not certified to fly.

Dana Air’s MD 83 crashed into a residential building in Lagos on Sunday June 3rd 2012, 4 nautical miles to the local wing of the Murtala Mohammed Airport, killing 153 people on board and 10 on the ground

A very emotional Haithiramani, shed tears as he reeled out the names of the late pilot of the flight and cabin crew members, claiming the airline was a united team.

The airline’s management explained that the plane that was grounded in Calabar was not the same Flight 0991. According to the airline’s Director of Flight of Operations, Captain Oscar Wason, who was also present at the press conference, stated that the aircraft that was grounded in Calabar is now in Lagos, undergoing a proper repair.

Captain Wason also claimed that the late pilot of the ill-fated plane never spoke with the Lagos Control Tower before the fatal crash.

This is coming amidst reports that the dead pilot, Peter Waxton, spoke with air traffic controllers in the Lagos Control Tower and declared ‘May-day’ emergency, before the crash.

“The captain did not have a chance to talk to the Lagos Control Tower. He was talking to the radar control. He was released from the radar control to Control Tower, but he never made the call” he said.

“He indicated to the radar he had an engine failure. But the only conclusion we can come to at this point in time is that he reported that he had an engine failure.

“Investigation will show exactly what really happened. Two minutes after he reported, then the aircraft disappeared from the radar, then the crash.”

When asked why the pilot was not communicating with the Lagos Control Tower before the crash at about three to four minutes to the runway, he replied “at this point the investigation will prove that. I don’t know, but he was probably handed over late to the Control Tower.”

Admitting that the ill-fated aircraft reported engine failure, Watson stated that it will be premature to conclude that its two engines were lost before the crash.

N50 million daily.

Meanwhile, Dana Air has stated that it will be losing N50 million daily with the grounding of its operations in the aftermath of Sunday’s crash. The federal government on Tuesday withdrew the operating license of the airline until further notice.

Captain Wason gave the figure at a joint press conference by the firm and Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) on Thursday, where he revealed that the airline will be losing 2,000 passengers and N50 million daily due to the suspension of its operations.

According to him, the loss would amount to N1.5 billion in a month.

He however, confirmed that Dana Air’s insurer, Lloyds of London, is capable of paying the families of the crash victims $30,000 (N4.6 million) within the first 30 days of the accident.

Nigerian Aircrafts and Their Ages

Nigerian Aircrafts and Their Ages

Dana Air 

5N-DEV 49947 1900 McDonnell Douglas MD-83 C12Y128 11-05-2012 N934JM -20.9 Years

5N-JAI 53016 1850 McDonnell Douglas MD-83 C12Y128 21-08-2009 N968AS – 21.2 Years

5N-SAI 53018 1779 McDonnell Douglas MD-83 C12Y128 30-08-2008 N943AS- 21.7 Years

5N-SRI 53020 1789 McDonnell Douglas MD-83 C12Y128 04-08-2008 N947AS- 21.6 Years

Aero Contractors Current Fleet

5N-BIZ 24558 1845 Boeing 737-4B7 01-02-2007 N436US – 22.2 Years

5N-BJA 24873 1931 Boeing 737-4B7 05-2007 N446US lsf Jet Partners LL- 21.7 Years

5N-BJO 534 De Havilland Canada DHC-8-311Q Dash 8 Y50 23-02-2007 C-FLGJ lsd – 12.9 Years

5N-BKQ 26695 2423 Boeing 737-522 28-08-2008 VP-BSW lsf  GECAS – 19.4 Years

5N-BKR 26699 2485 Boeing 737-522 14-08-2008 VP-BSX lsf GECAS – 19 Years

5N-BLC 26692 2421 Boeing 737-522 26-09-2008 VP-BSV – 19.4 Years

5N-BLD 26675 2345 Boeing 737-522 10-08-2008 VP-BSU lsf GECAS – 19.9 Years

5N-BLE 26672 2343 Boeing 737-522 02-04-2009 VP-BSQ – 19.9 Years

5N-BLG 25387 2179 Boeing 737-522 28-08-2011 VP-BTI – 20.5 Years

5N-BLH 25383 2146 Boeing 737-522 Due VP-BTG lsf WFBN – 20.7 Years

5N-BOB 24232 2060 Boeing 737-42C 26-03-2012 EI-CWE [Stored] lsf AWAS- 21 Years

5N-BOC 24814 2270 Boeing 737-42C 17-10-2011 EI-CWF lsf AWAS – 20.2 Years

Air Nigeria Current Fleet

5N-VNC 29338 3114 Boeing 737-33V C16Y100 02-06-2010 G-EZYN lsf GECAS- 13 Years

5N-VND 29337 3113 Boeing 737-33V C16Y100 02-06-2010 G-EZYM lsf GECAS- 13 Years

5N-VNE 29340 3121 Boeing 737-33V C16Y100 02-06-2010 G-EZYP lsf GECAS- 12.8 Years

5N-VNF 29341 3125 Boeing 737-33V C16Y100 08-07-2010 OE-IAF lsf CAT- 12.7 Years

5N-VNG 29342 3127 Boeing 737-33V C16Y100 02-06-2010 OE-IAI lsf GECAS-12.6 Years

5N-VNH 19000210 Embraer ERJ-190AR (ERJ-190-100 IGW) C12Y84 02-06-2010 PT-SGT

5N-VNI 19000226 Embraer ERJ-190AR (ERJ-190-100 IGW) C12Y84 02-06-2010 PT-SHM

5N-VNJ 28558 2876 Boeing 737-36N C16Y100 16-08-2010 N542MS lsf GECAS – 15.2 Years

5N-VNK 27469 2864 Boeing 737-33A C16Y100 15-11-2010 N901AS lsf AerSale Inc 15.3 Years

5N-VNL 27910 2873 Boeing 737-33A C16Y100 15-11-2010 N902AS lsf AerSale Inc – 15.2 Years

5N-VNM 25375 2598 Boeing 737-4Q8 03-08-2011 TC-TJD lsf ILFC – 18.2 Years

SU-GCI 696 Airbus A330-243 C24Y244 13-05-2012 F-WWYR lsf EgyptAir Papa Do – 6.7 Years


Arik Air Current Fleet

5N-BKU 4207 De Havilland Canada DHC-8-402Q Dash 8 C10Y62 14-10-2009 C-FPPU Christopher

5N-BKV 4219 De Havilland Canada DHC-8-402Q Dash 8 C10Y62 06-11-2009 C-FSRN Cyprian

5N-JEA 15058 Canadair CL-600-2D24 Regional Jet CRJ-900ER C10Y65 02-10-2006 C-FHRH

5N-JEB 15059 Canadair CL-600-2D24 Regional Jet CRJ-900ER C10Y65 02-10-2006 C-FHRK

5N-JEC 15054 Canadair CL-600-2D24 Regional Jet CRJ-900ER C10Y65 02-10-2006 C-FGNB

5N-JED 15114 Canadair CL-600-2D24 Regional Jet CRJ-900ER C10Y65 31-03-2007 C-FMEP – 5.4 Years

5N-MJC 33932 2234 Boeing 737-7BD(WL) C12Y119 14-06-2007 N1795B Martin- 5.2 Years

5N-MJD 36073 2248 Boeing 737-7BD(WL) C12Y119 14-06-2007 N1787B Michael- 5.2 Years

5N-MJE 34761 2401 Boeing 737-7GL(WL) Y149 25-11-2007 N737AV McTighe- 4.7 Years

5N-MJF 34762 2427 Boeing 737-7GL(WL) Y149 04-12-2007 N737BV Queen of Angels – 4.6 Years

5N-MJG 33944 2576 Boeing 737-7BD(WL) C12Y119 27-05-2008 N346AT Claudiana – 4.2 Years

5N-MJH 36719 2589 Boeing 737-7BD(WL) C12Y119 27-05-2008 N347AT Margaret – 4.2 Years

5N-MJI 28640 799 Boeing 737-76N(WL) C12Y112 04-02-2009 N740AL lsf GECAS City of Freetown – 11.3 Years

5N-MJJ 28641 809 Boeing 737-76N(WL) C12Y112 04-02-2009 N741AL lsf GECAS – 11.2 Years

5N-MJK 30830 855 Boeing 737-76N(WL) C12Y112 09-04-2009 N742AL lsf GECAS Ville De Niamey – 11.1 Years

5N-MJN 35638 2789 Boeing 737-86N(WL) C16Y132 10-03-2009 N1796B lsf GECAS Eddington – 3.4 Years

5N-MJO 35640 2819 Boeing 737-86N(WL) C16Y132 29-06-2009 N358MT lsf GECAS Augustine – 3.3 Years

5N-MJP 38970 3030 Boeing 737-8JE(WL) C20Y126 28-10-2009 N1787B Sultan of Sokoto – 2.8 Years

5N-MJQ 38971 3065 Boeing 737-8JE(WL) C20Y126 17-02-2010 City of Calabar – 2.7 Years

CS-TFW 910 Airbus A340-542 C36Y201 11-12-2008 F-WJKH lsf Hi Fly Our Lady of Perpetual Help – 4 Years

CS-TFX 912 Airbus A340-542 C36Y201 29-04-2009 F-WJKI lsf Hi Fly Captain Bob Hayes – 3.9 Years

Chanchangi Airlines Current Fleet

5N-BEV 22658 861 Boeing 737-217(A) 10-12-2004 C-GCPZ – 30.2 Year

5N-BIF 23043 972 Boeing 737-282(A) C12Y88 21-11-2005 N233TM [Stored] – 29 Years

5N-BIG 23044 973 Boeing 737-282(A) 28-12-2005 N344TM – 29 Years

5N-BIH 23046 981 Boeing 737-282(A) 28-12-2005 N789TM – 22.9 Years

5N-BMB 25079 2016 Boeing 737-3J6 03-2009 B-2536 – 21.3 Years

5N-BMC 25089 2027 Boeing 737-3Z0 03-2009 B-2537 – 21.2 Years

First Nation Airways Current Fleet

N-FNA 409 Airbus A320-212 07-04-2011 N409AG [Stored] lsf ACG – 19.3 Years

5N-FNB 466 Airbus A320-212 08-04-2011 N466AG [Stored] lsf ACG – 18.2 Years

5N-FNC 497 Airbus A320-212 10-04-2011 N997AG [Stored] lsf ACG – 17.7 Years

IRS Airlines Current Fleet

5N-CEO 11295 Fokker F100 20-08-2004 N860US Hajiya Babba – 22.3 Years

5N-HIR 11498 Fokker F100 22-01-2009 G-CFBU – 18.4 Years

5N-SAT11293 Fokker F100 22-12-2010 PH-MJO – 22.3 Years

5N-SIK 11286 Fokker F100 16-07-2010 SE-DUU – 22.5 Years

5N-SMR 11291 Fokker F100 02-03-2010 SE-DUV – 22.4

Dana Air McDonnell Douglas MD-83 (DC-9-83)

Having previously listed as stored, this aircraft is probably on its way to its new owner, Dana Air of Nigeria. This is the first African airline I have seen here in Curacao, a rare guest!!! 

Also note the additional green sticker promoting Nigeria with the text "Nigeria: Good people, Great Nation". Nice!!! Canon EOS600D Rebel T3i [EF18-135mm 1:3.5-5.6 IS]

Aircraft History!

The aircraft was a twin-engined MD-83. Registered in Nigeria as 5N-RAM, it was a former Alaska Airlines aircraft (N944AS), which Alaska Airlines purchased new in 1990, "was bedeviled with technical problems soon after its delivery by McDonnell Douglas" to Alaska Airlines, according to the Alaska Dispatch, and sold in 2008 as part of the airline's transition to an all-Boeing 737 fleet. The aircraft was stored in Miami until early 2012 when it was sold to Dana Airlines.

Background

Douglas Aircraft developed the DC-9 in the 1960s as a short-range companion to their larger DC-8. The DC-9 was an all-new design, using two rear fuselage-mounted turbofan engines, and a T-tail. The DC-9 has a narrow-body fuselage design with 5-abreast seating, and holds 80 to 135 passengers depending on seating arrangement and aircraft version.

The MD-80 series was the second generation of the DC-9. It was originally called the DC-9-80 series and the DC-9 Super 80[2] and entered service in 1980. The MD-80 series was then developed into the MD-90 entering service in 1995. The last variant of the family was the MD-95, which was renamed the Boeing 717-200 after McDonnell Douglas's merger with Boeing in 1997.

The DC-9 family is one of the most successful jet airliners with a total of over 2,400 units produced; it ranks third behind the second place Airbus A320 family with over 4,000 produced, and the first place Boeing 737 with over 7,000 produced.

The MD-80 series is a mid-size, medium-range airliner that was introduced in 1980. The design was the second generation of the DC-9 with two rear fuselage-mounted turbofan engines, small, highly efficient wings, and a T-tail. The aircraft has distinctive 5-abreast seating in coach class. It was a lengthened DC-9-50 with a higher maximum take-off weight(MTOW) and a higher fuel capacity. The aircraft series was designed for frequent, short-haul flights for 130 to 172 passengers depending on plane version and seating arrangement.

Scandinavian Airlines MD-81 taking off

The development of MD-80 series began in the 1970s as a growth version of the DC-9 Series 50. Availability of new Pratt & Whitney JT8D higher bypass engines drove early studies including designs known as Series 55, Series 50 (Re-fanned Super Stretch), and Series 60. The design effort focused on the Series 55 in August 1977. With the projected entry into service in 1980, the design was marketed as the DC-9 Series 80. Swissair launched the Series 80 in October 1977 with an order for 15 plus an option for five.

The Series 80 featured a fuselage 14 ft 3 in (4.34 m) longer than the DC-9-50. The DC-9 wings were redesigned by adding sections at the wing root and tip for a 28% larger wing. The initial Series 80 first flew October 19, 1979.

It entered service in 1980. Originally it was certified as a version of the DC-9, but was changed to MD-80 in July 1983, as a marketing move. New versions of the series were initially the MD-81/82/83 and the shortened MD-87, even though their formal certification was DC-9-81/82 etc. Only the MD-88 was given an "MD" certification, as was the later MD-90.

The MD-80 versions have cockpit, avionics and aerodynamic upgrades along with the more powerful, more efficient and quieter JT8D-200 series engines, which are a significant upgrade over the smaller JT8D-15, -17, -11, and -9 series. The MD-80 series aircraft also have longer fuselages than their earlier DC-9 counterparts, as well as longer range. Some customers, such as American Airlines, still refer to the planes in fleet documentation as "Super 80". This model is still flown extensively by American Airlines and Delta Air Lines. Comparable airliners to the MD-80 series include the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320.

McDonnell Douglas MD-83 (DC-9-83) Specification

Date of Manufacture:                      10-1990

No. Of Engines:                            2

Aircraft Type:                               Jet

Passenger Capacity (Max):             172

Passenger Capacity (Min):              137

Range (in Miles):                            3,260

Cruising Speed (MPH):                  576

Wingspan:                                     107

Length:                                         147

Height:                                          29

Takeoff Weight (in Lbs):                  140,000

Cabin Type:                                   Pressurized

Age                                                 21.7 Years

Airframe Status                          Written Off

Alaska Airlines bought it on 08-05-2007 by WFBN and leased back. Ferried SEA-VCV 21-08-2008 for storage, Ferried VCV-MIA 11-09-2008 for maintenance. Ferried MIA-KAN 17 - 20-02-2009 on delivery, Crashed 03-06-2012 at Lagos on approach into residential area after reporting engine problems and colliding with a power line

Manchester City are the 2011/2012 EPL Champion!

This is quite unbelievable, Manchester City won the English Premier League title for the first time in 44 years to deny rivals Manchester United a 20th domestic championship in a dramatic conclusion to the Premier League season.

"To win it like this is incredible," Mancini, who at times during the second half gave the impression he could barely believe his side appeared to be doing all they could to throw away the title, told Sky Sports. "I don't think I've ever seen a finale like this.

"We didn't deserve to lose, we had a lot of chances and we deserved to win the game and championship.

"It's fantastic for the club and the supporters after 44 years. It's been a crazy season and a crazy last minute."

On the other hand Sir Allex Ferguson admitted he was stunned by the scenes at the Etihad Stadium, nevertheless, congratulates his side’s arch rivals for clinching their maiden Premier League crown. He said “I don’t think anyone was expecting that, referring to the last scene of the city game. Everyone expected City to win; they had to do it against 10 men for half an hour and they had five minutes of added time too. I congratulate City on winning the league; it’s not an easy week to win it. Anyone who wins it deserves it.”

"I want to win more. I'm hungry. This feeling is indescribable," captain Vincent Kompany told BBC Radio

A big congratulation to ManCity... They actually deserve winning this trophy!



NOT AGAIN! Bombing of Thisday Newsapaper Office in Abuja

BREAKING NEWS! Bomb explosion in Thisday Newspaper Building, Jabi Abuja.

With a similar Braking News in Kaduna which Kills 10 Near Thisday Newspaper's Bureau Offices In Kaduna

Some Facts about FCB-Chelsea: Did you know...

Tonight is going to a a night of war between FC Barcelona and Chelsea FC, as both team will figth to finish as the best in the on going Champions Leaguesemi final second leg at the Camp Nou.

Meanwhile, did you know that...

• FC Barcelona and Chelsea have met eleven times in Europe, with 4 wins for the
English club, 3 for the Catalans and four draws

• Barça have not lost a European fixture at the Camp Nou for 15 games, having put
together 13 wins and two draws

• In the five games they have played at the Camp Nou in this year’s edition, Barça have
scored 18 goals

• None of the last four results between Barça and Chelsea at the Camp Nou would
produce a result that would serve the interests of the former side this evening (2-1 in
2004/05, 1-1 in 2005/06, 2-2 in 2006/07 and 0-0 in 2008/09).

• But the 5-1 win in 1999/00, under similar circumstances to this year’s encounter, with
Barça needing to make up for 3-1 first leg defeat in London, would see the home side
through to the final

• Chelsea have been struggling to find form away from home in Europe this season,
having lost two and drawn two games, and only having won on the trip to Benfica.
Nevertheless, of their five away results, only the 3-1 loss to Napoli would not be
enough to see them qualify tonight at Barcelona’s expense.

• Barça have won 50% of their Champions League semi finals played to date (6 out of
12). Chelsea, meanwhile, have only won 20% (1 out of 5).

• Whenever they have won the first leg of a European tie, Chelsea have managed to
qualify 9 times out of 13.

• FC Barcelona have had the most shots (99) and the most corners (66) in the
competition, They have also received the fewest yellow cards (15)

• Puyol and Mascherano are both one booking short of suspension from a hypothetical
final appearance. Chelsea’s Ivanovic, David Luiz, Cole, Ramires and Meireles are all in
the same situation.

• Chelsea is the lowest scoring of all four quarter finalists (22) and is also the side that
has leaked the most goals (9).

• The Londoners are unbeaten in nine matches in all competitions, having won six of
them. They haven’t even conceded a goal for four games.

• Patience may well be a virtue on Tuesday night. 18 of the 38 goals that Chelsea have
conceded in the Premiership this season were scored in the last quarter of an hour.

• The referee tonight will be Turkey’s Cüneyt Çakir, who is taking charge of his eighth
Champions League fixture. He has refereed both Barça and Chelsea once before. He
whistled Barça’s 1-1 draw in Kazan in the 2010/11 group stages and also Chelsea’s 4-
1 win over Spartak Moscow in the 2009/10) group stages.

FC Barcelona Coach Josep Guardiola said in his pre match statements

Believe me when I say we will make it tomorrow. I believe this for hundreds of reasons; these players will beat Chelsea. I know there's a wish for us not to make it, but let us believe that we will. All our semi-finals have been very tough and we know the first leg was disappointing, but we can't think about that. I know they will do it tomorrow because I know they can do it. They will play to win. I don't have any doubt that we will be in Munich.

I don't know if this is my greatest challenge as coach. I always face challenges with optimism because I have faith in this team and the players. Whenever we lose or draw it hurts for a few days, but with my faith and optimism I know we will do everything we can.

Having said all this, i also strongly believe that FC Barcelona will win in Campnou which will make them to qualify for the Final in Munich.



Sudanese air raid on South Sudan; Not again!

It was announced on Monday that two fighter jets fired four missiles near the South Sudanese town of Bentiu which is divided by a river, hitting an open-air market, witnesses said.

Meanwhile, it was recorded earlier, that Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir ruled out talks with South Sudan, which could be a pointer to what just happen.

A Sudanese military commander, Kamal Marouf, was also quoted by Radio Sudan's website as saying that more than 1,200 South Sudanese had been killed.

Not too long after the bombing, Ban Ki-moon condemned the bombardment and called on Sudan to cease all hostilities immediately, a spokesman for the secretary-general said in a statement, also, the United Nations called for Sudan to halt the aerial bombings after what it described as four morning attacks, including one on the capital of oil-rich Unity state.

"There will be no negotiation with the South,"

Bashir said Monday in Arabic on Sudanese government radio. "We have spoken to them now with guns and bullets. ... We will teach the government of South Sudan a lesson."

Both countries are accusing each other of being behind the destruction.

THE QUESTION IS WHO ARE WE TO BELIEVE?

SAY NO TO WAR!!!

10 most powerful women in technology

It's a very big previlege to introduce to the 10 most powerful woman in Technology world. Knowingfully well that the Tech world is fast growing with lot of males throwing lot of challenges at the woman technology wise.
Despite of all the challenges, some of the most prestigious and best-remunerated roles are still held by females.
Carolyn Leighton, founder and chairwoman of Women in Technology International, have successfully identifies the 10 most powerful women in tech.

http://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2012/04/tech/interactive.women.tech/?hpt=hp_c2

Jane Moran

As Global Chief Information Officer, Jane Moran oversees business systems for Thomson Reuters, which sells information to scientific, legal, financial, business and media markets and employs 55,000 in more than 100 countries. Moran took up the role in London in 2008, when Thomson Corporation merged with Reuters, and now manages a centralized taskforce of 1,200.

She is a roundtable member of the Center for Digital Strategies at Dartmouth College's Tuck School of Business and sits on the CIO Council for salesforce.com, Workday, and Oracle. In an interview with the Anita Borg Institute for Women in Technology, Moran attributes her decision to enter technology to time spent in her math professor father's lab at Ohio State University.

"Within minutes of meeting Jane, you get a strong sense of why she is one of the world's leading CIOs. Despite a ceaseless schedule, she's both an active participant in WITI and in Thomson Reuters Women's Network, among other organizations. She's a leading example of utilizing a career in technology to create greater business opportunities while supporting the advancement of other women along the way," says WITI EVP, Michele Weisblatt.

Cher Wang

As co-founder and chairwoman of HTC Corporation, Taiwan's leading tech business, Cher Wang has overseen the development of smartphone and mobile technology, partnering with Google and Microsoft on Windows-compatible smartphones and PDAs primarily sold in the U.S. and Europe. With her husband, Wang is also chairwoman and cofounder of VIA Technologies, which supplies PC processor platforms. Wang represents Taiwan on the APEC Business Advisory Council and HTC is an industry partner of the World Economic Forum.

A devout Christian, she was ranked the 276th richest person in the world, with an estimated personal wealth of $4 billion, by Forbes Magazine, which describes her as "the most powerful woman in wireless."

"Her impetus for starting HTC was to develop hardware products that foster easier, more efficient communication. She's led HTC in approaching development from the perspective of creating a holistic experience with a focus on personal choice, observing and listening to create products that cater to a perceived consumer desire," says Leighton.

Deborah Estrin

Deborah Estrin is a professor of computer sciences at UCLA, and director of its multidisciplinary $40 million Center for Embedded Networked Sensing, which pioneers new technologies for collecting information from the physical world, and processing and communicating that information in useful ways. The idea is that, embedded with networked microprocessors, environments (buildings, buoys, ecosystems) could report and perhaps even correct in real-time their own faults.

She is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineers and was inducted to the Women in Technology International Hall of Fame in 2008.

"Deborah and Judy (her sister -- see previous box) hail from a strong family of successful technologists. Both their parents -- their mother Thelma, a WITI Hall of Fame winner as well -- set these remarkable women on an inevitable path to success, which was accomplished through encouragement and their own merits in their fields of study," says Carolyn Leighton.

Judy Estrin

A serial entrepreneur, Judy Estrin studied computer science at UCLA and electrical engineering at Stanford alongside Vint Cerf, who is recognized as one of the fathers of the internet, in the 1970s. At Zilog Corporation, she led a team that developed one of the first commercial LAN systems, and has co-founded three companies manufacturing networking devices and software. From 1998 to 2000, she served as CTO for Cisco Systems and has been a board member for Disney, FedEx, Rockwell and Sun Microsystems.

In 2008, feeling that the United States had become focused on short-term gains at the expense of encouraging creative opportunities, she published "Closing the Innovation Gap," which looks at how to sustain innovation on an organizational and national level.

She is currently CEO of JLabs, a consulting and advocacy "work lab."

"Judy and Deborah (her sister -- see next box) hail from a strong family of successful technologists. Both their parents -- their mother Thelma, a WITI Hall of Fame winner as well -- set these remarkable women on an inevitable path to success, which was accomplished through encouragement and their own merits in their fields of study," says Carolyn Leighton.

Marissa Mayer @marissamayer

Marissa Mayer was one of Google's first 20 employees, joining in 1999, as the company's first female engineer. She has been VP of Local and Maps for Google since 2010, leading the search engine's product development efforts. Prior to that, Mayer worked on Google's search products.

At 36, she is one of the world's youngest leading tech executives. She serves on the boards of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the San Francisco Ballet, the New York City Ballet, and the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, and was recently nominated for the board of Walmart.

"When Marissa presented her keynote at the Women Powering Technology Summit in 2011, the strongest message to resonate with the audience was her insistence on gender neutrality in technology by advocating gender-free geekdom. Marissa shares this message globally in her work at Google and through her presence in the media," says Carolyn Leighton.

Maxine Fassberg

Maxine Fassberg manages manufacturing operations at Intel Israel, the world's biggest manufacturer of semiconductor chips and the country's largest private employer. As well as overseeing fabrication plants in Kiryat Gat and Jerusalem, and a design center in Haifa, Fassberg handles relations with the Israeli government, which has kicked in $210 million (740 million shekels) of funding, according to Haaretz.

Fassberg received a master's degree in Applied Chemistry from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1978. She joined Intel in 1983 as an engineer, becoming general manager in 2007. She holds a patent for a way of forming a protective polyimide layer over a semiconductor.

"Maxine is a WITI Hall of Fame inductee of the 2009 class, who returned in 2010 expressly to support the newest class of honorees. Maxine is a powerful center of influence, a great supporter of her fellow Hall of Fame colleagues, and a mentor for emerging tech leaders, no matter their gender," says Carolyn Leighton.

Sandy Carter @sandy_carter

Sandy Carter is Vice President, Social Business Evangelism at IBM, where she is responsible for directing the company's social business initiatives, and working with clients to develop best practices. (Social business is the application of social media tools and techniques to a company's internal and external processes, in order to connect clients, partners, citizens and employees). Since joining the company in 1989, Carter has also been a VP of IBM's Service Oriented Architecture, which achieved 70% market share under her management.

She is fluent in eight programming languages; has travelled to more than 60 countries; has authored three books about business and social media, and is one of IBM's top bloggers and tweeters, winning MarCom awards for her communities.

"Sandy Carter uniquely combines extraordinary expertise in the worlds of business and technology, traveling the world to evangelize the use of social media to help strengthen communication and revenue in both business-to-business and business-to-consumer strategy. She is a passionate, committed advocate and supporter of young women and girls achieving their greatest possible success," says founder and chairwoman of Women in Technology International (WITI), Carolyn Leighton.

Sheryl Sandberg @sherylsandberg

Sheryl Sandberg is Facebook's Chief Operating Officer, overseeing the social media mammoth's business operations -- which includes sales, marketing, business development, human resources, public policy and communications. Ted.com describes her role as "monetizing the world's largest social networking site while keeping its users happy and engaged."

Sandberg came to Facebook in 2008 from Google, where she built and managed the search engine's online sales. She has also served as an economist for the World Bank and Chief of Staff at the U.S. Treasury Department. According to company records, in 2011 she was Facebook's highest paid employee with a net salary of over $30 million.

"Sheryl's advocacy for women to 'take a seat at the table' while growing Facebook to one of the most significant valuations to date, is a perfect example of leading by example. At the 2011 WITI Summit, Facebook represented through their Director of Engineering, Jocelyn Goldfein, the many women engineers driving some of Facebook's most widely used applications. It's important that the tech community at large also recognize the women driving innovation in tech," says Michele Weisblatt.

Ursula Burns

Starting as an intern in 1980, Ursula Burns is now chair of Xerox, a $23 billion global business with almost 140,000 employees. She became CEO in 2009 and company chair the following year, at the tail end of a decade that saw the company restructuring to meet changing needs, moving from photocopying into digital technologies. One of her first moves was the $6.4 billion dollar acquisition of Affiliated Computer Services -- the company's largest purchase.

Burns is also a board director of American Express, works with community initiatives including the National Academy Foundation, MIT, and the U.S. Olympic Committee, and is a founding board director of Change the Equation, an organisation that seeks to improve the U.S.'s science, tech, engineering and math education. She is the first African-American woman to lead a major U.S. corporation, and the first female CEO to succeed another woman, according to Bloomberg.

"Ursula's story is inspirational and epitomizes the true American success story. Her dedication to mentoring, encouragement of girls and women, and her commitment to advocacy are remarkable. Ursula often credits her mother's influence and belief that education, confidence and hard work can change everything. This is a message that bears weight in every tech community the world over," said Carolyn Leighton.

Susie Wee @susiewee | Blog

Susie Wee is VP and CTEO (Chief Technology and Experience Officer) of Collaboration and Communication at networking giant Cisco Systems -- a role that she says reflects her passion for combining user experience and technology. From Palo Alto, California, Wee manages a team of 90 user experience designers, researchers and technologists, working on collaboration products.

Wee came to Cisco in April last year after 15 years at Hewlett Packard, where she oversaw cloud strategies for personal computing products, and founded HP's Experience Software Business which employs 100 people in five countries.

"Like her Cisco colleague Padma Warrior, Susie's exemplary leadership and outright enthusiasm for her work encourages the brightest ideas from the brightest talent in tech. Susie's energy is strong, fair and infectious. She effectively communicates the 'fun' in technology, while teaching us to think differently about the practical applications for various types of technology. She is also a committed advocate for her fellow women in technology," says Leighton.

Thanks for taking your time to read this.

Best Regards.

Mali picks Microsoft official as interim PM - Africa

Mali picks Microsoft official as interim PM - Africa - Al Jazeera English

Cheick Modibo Diarra, is an accomplished astrophysicist who has worked on five NASA missions and became a US citizen, but he says he has never forgotten the Malian town of his birth.

James Ibori Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison.

The former governor of Delta state James Ibori has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for corruption and money laundering charges at the Southwark Crown Court 9 in London by Judge Anthony Pitts at about 3.20pm today 17th April, 2012.

Judge Pitts said he "recognizes that there is another side to the man James ibori but he is not the proper person to judge your achievements and failings as a governor, which is up to the people of delta state"

The judge also noted that, if he had fought the case he would be looking at 24 years but will get a discount for pleading guilty. Judge deducts 645 days already spent in jail, says Ibori would serve the rest in British jail. That means Mr. Ibori will be in prison for at least 7 years.

In addition, Judge Pitts said that the sentencing will not be the end of the matter as his property will also be confiscated.

One down, more others to go... All thanks to Southwark Crown Court 9 in London UK.

John Fashanu, gave character testimony for James Ibori.

It was unbelievable that John Fashanu who is often referred to as Fash gave a character testimony for James Ibori today at the Final Day Of Sentencing Him (jame Ibori) For Money Laundering at the Southwark Crown Court in London.

I think we need to know, Since Fashanu is under oaths, he should be asked how much he was paid for this open testimony for Jame Ibori. I think this is power of money that is at work here; even when Ibori has fallen, Fashanu is willing to go with him. Is this the man that tried to lead Nigeria Football Association? I think Fashanu is a complete disgrace to this country base on this testimony. If am not wrong, I think Okocha should be in his late 30's;

The Big Question is?

Ø  When did he (Okocha) benefited from the stadium built by Ibori?

Ø  Where is this shooting range located?

If none of this could be proven with valid evidence within the court room, am afraid to say that He "Fash" has just successfully compounded Ibori's case.

Mr. Fash, please note that even though Jay Jay Okocha might have his ancestral home in Delta State, He is an Enugu State born and breed. Jay Jay NEVER learnt to play football in Delta State...not even for a minute. Jay Jay is from Asata area of Enugu and started his playing career with Co-operative and Commerce Bank Football club (CCB).

Fashanu's testimony or character... (Whatever it is) is just a big slap on all Nigerians and most importantly a slap on his loyal fans.

As for me, I henceforth withdraw the gratitude I expressed to you as a loyal Fan. :( :( :(

Fabrice Muamba discharged from hospital!

Fabrice Muamba, the Bolton Wanderers midfielder who was dead for 78 Minute on the pitch last month during an FA Cup quarter-final march against Tottenham at White Hart Lane has been discharged from The London Chest Hospital on Monday.

Muamba said in a statement after being discharged:  

"I am naturally very pleased to be discharged from hospital and would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to every single member of staff at The London Chest Hospital who have played a part in my care,"

"Their dedication, professionalism and expertise is simply amazing and I will forever be in their debt. I also wish to say thank you to all the many well-wishers who have sent thousands of messages of support," he added.

"Now I am out of hospital, I am looking forward to continuing my recovery and spending precious time with my family."Now I am out of hospital, I am looking forward to continuing my recovery and spending precious time with my family."

ALL GLORY BE TO GOD FOR A LIFE SAVED!

US choice is new World Bank chief

Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was defeated today by The Korean-American health expert Jim Yong Kim who is currently the president of Dartmouth University as the new president of the World Bank.

Dr Kim will take up his post on 1 July, 2012.

My Personal Commitment!

After my last Training, I have plan to improve my productivity at work/home through a concious effort by improving the following:

1. Be true to who I am. Stop trying to please other people or be someone else.

2. Quit complaining. Don’t be like the howling dog, always howling and never doing anything. Stop complaining about my problems and work on them instead.

3. Be actively proactive. Stop waiting for others around me to prompt me to do something before taking active steps.

4. Rather than think “what if”, think “next time”. Stop thinking about stuffs I can’t change or unhappy things because they can be demoralizing. Instead I will focus on the things I can action upon. That’s the most constructive thing I can do in any situation.

5. Focus on WHAT vs. How. Focus on WHAT I want first, before I think about HOW to do it. Anything is possible, as long as I set my mind, heart and soul to it.

6. Create my own opportunities. I can wait for opportunities to drop in life. Or, I can either go out there to create my own opportunities. The latter is definite and much more empowering.

7. Live more consciously each day. Stop sleepwalking through life. My life is something to be experienced, not coasted through.

8. Be committed to my growth. In the Map of Consciousness, there are 17 levels of consciousness – from Shame to Enlightenment. The higher level of consciousness you are in, the richer your life experience. Achieving higher consciousness comes from your commitment to growth.

9. Knowing my inner self. This means knowing who I am and what I represent. Be clear of my personal identity.

10. Live every day on a fresh new start Never to be held back by what happened yesterday, the day before, the week before, the year before, and so on. I hope this will be usefull for someone also?

Best Regards.

FC Barcelona beat AC-Milan 3-1 to Move up to a Champions League semifinal spot!

The quarter final second leg 2011/12 Champions League Return to CampNou on April 3rd, 2012 between FC Barcelona and AC-Milan, a game that is tactically rich and with great maximum intensity, Barça sent AC-Milan packing with a very good football, ambition and superiority to quality for the semifinals for the fifth straight with a 3-1 aggregate goals.

However the victory didn't come without its controversies. Inevitably, it was Lionel Messi who was the MVP of the march scoring two first half penalties which happen to be his his 50th and 51st goals in the Champions League, before Andrei Iniesta's second half goal inevitably set up by Messi put clear blue water between Barcelona and Milan.

Hegemony Barça has no end and now fight in the semifinals to play Benfica or Chelsea.