BANGLADESH SIGNS $1.5BN POWER DEAL WITH INDIA

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Bangladesh signs $1.5bn power deal with India

Bangladesh currently relies on dilapidated gas-fired power plants

Bangladesh suit ban to save power

Bangladeshi and Indian electricity companies have signed a deal to build a $1.5bn (£950m) plant to help address Bangladesh’s chronic power shortages.

The coal-fired plant will produce 1300 megawatts of electricity, about one fifth of the country’s daily needs.

Bangladesh relies on old gas-fired plants for its power and experiences daily electricity shortfalls.

However environmentalists say the proposed site for the plant is too close to famous Sundarbans forests.

They argue that discharge from the power plant, like sulphur dioxide and fly ash, will have disastrous consequences for the fauna and flora of the mangrove swamps – a Unesco World Heritage site.

“If excess pressure is put on the [Poshu] river, that means less water for Sundarbans, which will mean that it will have a definite negative impact on the forests,” environmentalist Rizwana Hossain told the BBC.

However, officials say they will take steps to mitigate the impact of the planned plant on the environment.

Sunday’s deal was signed in Dhaka by Bangladesh’s Power Development Board and India’s National Thermal Power Corporation.

The Bangladeshi government says it needs to build more stations to meet the country’s growing demand for electricity.

Erratic supplies have been blamed for hampering industrial production and economic growth.

Last November Bangladesh signed a deal with Russia for two new nuclear plants, which should produce 1,000 megawatts each when they come online in 2018.

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BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD IS TOAST OF SUNDANCE

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Beasts of the Southern Wild is toast of Sundance

Beasts of the Southern Wild stars eight-year-old Quvenzhane Wallis

A film about a six-year-old girl called Hushpuppy and an army of prehistoric creatures has won the top prize at the Sundance Film Festival.

Beasts of the Southern Wild, about one child’s attempt to save her ailing father and sinking home, won the grand jury prize for drama.

The House I Live In – a critique of America’s war on drugs – won the grand jury documentary prize.

The Helen Hunt film, The Surrogate, won the audience award for best US drama.

Directed by Ben Lewin, the film also received a special jury prize for its ensemble cast, which included Hunt, William H Macy and John Hawkes, in the lead role.

The Surrogate, which is based on the true story of a paralysed 38-year-old man who sets out to lose his virginity, routinely won standing ovations at the festival for independent film.

“I don’t think most people have ever seen this sort of story before,” Lewin said, after the award ceremony.

“I think it was very new and unexpected. From the experiences I’ve had seeing it with an audience, it seems to be a real emotional ride.”

The film – the subject of a bidding war – has been bought by Fox Searchlight for a reported $6m, the highest-selling film at the festival.

The Surrogate proved to be the biggest commercial success of the festival

Fox Searchlight, the studio behind the mass marketing success of films such as Little Miss Sunshine and Slumdog Millionaire, also brought Beasts of the Southern Wild earlier in the week.

The first-time director Benh Zeitlin, whose film follows a father and daughter in impoverished Louisiana, lavished praise on his eight-year-old star Quvenzhane Wallis, calling her “the biggest person I know.”

The Invisible War, a film about rape in the US military, won the US documentary audience award, while Searching for Sugar Man – a Swedish and British collaboration – was the audience pick for World documentary, as well as picking up a special jury prize.

Britain’s David Raedeker won the world cinema cinematographer award for My Brother the Devil, but unlike 2011, it proved a quiet year for homegrown talent.

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RBS BOSS STEPHEN HESTER REJECTS £1M BONUS

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RBS boss Stephen Hester rejects £1m bonus

Royal Bank of Scotland chief executive Stephen Hester has turned down his controversial bonus, worth nearly £1m.

BBC business editor Robert Peston said Mr Hester would renounce the £963,000 shares-only payment after succumbing to “enormous political pressure”.

Chancellor George Osborne said it was a “sensible and welcome” decision that now let Mr Hester focus on getting back billions of pounds for the taxpayer.

Labour leader Ed Miliband said the RBS boss had “done the right thing”.

Earlier, Labour said it would force a vote on the issue after Prime Minister David Cameron refused to block the bonus from the mostly publicly-owned bank.
‘Out of touch’

Robert Peston said the board felt Mr Hester had earned the bonus for the way he had made RBS a less risky organisation.

It was Labour’s decision to put Stephen Hester’s bonus to a Commons vote that gave the RBS chief executive no option but to say he would not be taking £963,000 in shares.

As an RBS director put it to me, it would have been a great mistake for the semi-nationalised bank to fight Parliament to preserve rewards for its chief executive seen by many as excessive.

MPs were expected to vote against the bonus payment, and in those circumstances, it was untenable for him to pocket it. Or at least that was the conclusion that Mr Hester reached in conversation with the bank’s chairman, Sir Philip Hampton.

That said, RBS’s non-executive directors stand by their decision to award Mr Hester 60% of the maximum bonus he could have earned – because they feel he has strengthened the bank, and they argue that Mr Hester is paid less than his peers.

But when it looked as though MPs were going to vote against it, the general consensus amongst the directors was that the “game was up”, he added.

Earlier this month, RBS announced it would cut 3,500 jobs from its global banking division.

The cuts will mean RBS has removed 11,000 employees from its staff, almost halving its 2007, pre-credit crunch headcount of 24,000.

Shares in the bank have fallen 36% in the last year, falling 2% on Monday’s open.

Shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna said Mr Hester was already being adequately rewarded for his performance.

“He received £1.2m a year – that’s 46 times the average salary of an average employee in this country – to do that job,” he said.

“Usually you receive a bonus when you’ve done something above and beyond – exceptional, extraordinary.”

“But many of the things that have been cited in terms of things that he’s done for the bank are things that you would expect him to do.”

But William Wright, investment bank analyst for Financial News told the BBC: “It sets a very dangerous precedent for RBS.

“It raises the level of political risk and political interference in the day-to-day running of RBS to what some people many consider to be intolerable levels.

“It raises very serious questions about who actually is running RBS day to day.

“Shareholders, in this case the UK government, appoint a board, which in turn appoints an executive team to run the bank, and here we have a situation where the board agrees something, which has been signed off by shareholders and then they have been forced into a U-turn by political opinion.”

Former Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman Lord Oakeshott said Mr Hester’s decision was “better late than never”.

“I’m glad that eventually Stephen Hester has seen sense and seen the outrage of most people in this country, and Lib Dems who have been complaining bitterly about this for weeks,” he said.

Mr Hester’s bonus would not look big compared with that of Barclays boss Bob Diamond, Mr Peston says

“I’m very sorry that David Cameron and George Osborne didn’t see that, and have been defending the indefensible right up to today.”

Mr Hester was appointed chief executive at the end of 2008 to replace Sir Fred Goodwin, after the bank had to be bailed out by the government, which now owns 82% of it.

RBS chairman Sir Philip Hampton had already announced that he would waive his payout.

He had been on course to claim 5.17 million RBS shares in February, but it is thought he told the bank’s remuneration committee it would “not be appropriate” to take a £1.4m payout.

Robert Peston said RBS’s directors now recognise it would have been better to delay Mr Hester’s bonus decision until after it was revealed how much Barclays chief executive Bob Diamond received.

“Mr Hester’s bonus would not look big in comparison,” he explained.

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Euro crisis hangs over latest EU summit

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The eurozone crisis will dominate an EU summit on Monday, with an emphasis on growth and “smart” budget discipline.

The EU has more than 23 million unemployed people and there are fears that wide-ranging budget cuts will harm enterprise and training.

Cuts need to be “smart” – well-targeted – to allow room for future growth, the European Commission says.

Most member states – and not the UK – are expected to sign up to a new budget treaty, or “fiscal compact”.

The goal is much closer co-ordination of budget policy in the 17-nation eurozone.

Diplomatic wrangling continues over the influence of non-eurozone countries in the new institutional set-up.

The UK opted out, in a blaze of publicity last month, but did secure observer status in the discussions.

Poland is insisting that it and other countries preparing to join the euro should be fully involved in the eurozone negotiations.

Currently the draft treaty says signatories will hold summits at least twice a year. The attendance of non-euro countries is left to the discretion of the summit president, with the words “will invite when appropriate and at least once a year”.

The Czech Republic may delay joining the treaty because of a split in its ruling coalition and the Republic of Ireland may decide it has to put it to a referendum.

While France may be content with a eurozone-only membership, Germany is keen to include countries like Denmark, Poland and Sweden, not yet in the euro.

The Brussels summit coincided with a general strike in Belgium in protest at recent austerity measures, which has brought most of the city’s transport system to a standstill and disrupted international trains and flights.

Staff were asked to arrive for the 14:00 (13:00 GMT) summit at 05:30 to avoid the disruption.

Firewall bid

The summit comes a day after French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced a 0.1% tax on financial transactions.

The tax is part of a package of measures to promote growth and create jobs, and will be implemented in August regardless of whether other countries do the same.

Greece remains a big question mark hanging over this summit. Complex negotiations with private creditors have not yet produced a deal to prevent Greece defaulting.

The European Commission says it is confident a deal will be reached within days. But Greece could run out of money as early as mid-February.

Private investors are being asked to take a 50% “haircut” (loss) on their Greek bonds in a complex bond swap, with the aim of cutting Greece’s debt to 120% of gross domestic product by 2020.

A deal is crucial for the EU and International Monetary Fund to grant a long-awaited 130bn-euro (£109bn; $172bn) second bailout for Greece.

In an interview for the Wall Street Journal on Monday, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said only radical reforms in Greece could trigger the release of the funds.

“Unless Greece implements the necessary decisions and doesn’t just announce them… there’s no amount of money that can solve the problem,” he said.

The atmosphere remained tense at the weekend with a row over a leaked German proposal to put an EU budget commissioner with veto powers in charge of Greek taxes and spending.

Greece rejected the proposal outright, but its EU partners remain alarmed by its failure to meet tough fiscal targets.

The EU is trying to put in place a bigger, more resistant “firewall” to prevent contagion spreading from Greece.

The eurozone plans to launch a 500bn-euro permanent bailout fund – the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) – in July, a year earlier than first planned. It is expected to get the final go-ahead at the summit. The UK will not contribute to it.

The existing temporary fund – the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) – is reckoned to be worth about 300bn euros and it ends next year. Some experts say it should be combined with the ESM, rather than running in parallel.

Italy alone needs to refinance more than 300bn euros of debt this year and there are many voices urging the European Central Bank to boost the firewall to at least 1tn euros.

Recession clouds make it a gloomy start to this year’s EU summits. But the European Commission says 82bn euros of EU money is available for countries to spend on projects to boost jobs and growth.

EU leaders will exchange views on how best to tackle youth unemployment and support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), many of which complain of excessive administrative costs imposed by Brussels.

BBC

Troops seize Damascus suburbs back from rebels

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AMMAN (Reuters) – Troops seized eastern suburbs of Damascus from rebels late on Sunday, opposition activists said, after two days of fighting only a few kilometers from the centre of power of President Bashar al-Assad.

Smoke rises from the suburb of Erbeen in Damascus, January 29, 2012. Around 2,000 Syrian troops backed by tanks launched an assault to retake Damascus suburbs from rebels on Sunday, activists said, a day after the Arab League suspended its monitoring mission in Syria because of worsening violence. Credit: Reuters/Handout

“The Free Syrian Army has made a tactical withdrawal. Regime forces have re-occupied the suburbs and started making house-to-house arrests,” an activist named Kamal said by phone from the eastern al-Ghouta area on the edge of the capital.

A spokesman for the Free Syrian Army of defectors fighting Assad’s forces appeared to confirm that account.

“Tanks have gone in but they do not know where the Free Syrian Army is. We are still operating close to Damascus,” Maher al-Naimi told Reuters by phone from Turkey.

Activists said earlier on Sunday soldiers had moved into the suburbs at dawn, along with at least 50 tanks and other armored vehicles. At least 19 civilians and rebel fighters were killed in that initial attack, they said.

Fighters had taken over districts less than eight km (five miles) from the heart of the city. The areas have seen repeated protests against Assad’s rule and crackdowns by troops in the 10-month-old uprising.

“It’s urban war. There are bodies in the street,” said an activist speaking from the suburb of Kfar Batna.

Residents of central Damascus reported seeing soldiers and police deployed around main squares.

The escalating bloodshed prompted the Arab League to suspend the work of its monitors on Saturday. Arab foreign ministers, who have urged Assad to step down and make way for a government of national unity, will discuss the crisis on February 5.

ARAB PEACE PLAN

Arab League chief Nabil Elaraby left for New York where he will brief representatives of the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday to seek support for the Arab peace plan.

He will be joined by Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani, whose country heads the League’s committee charged with overseeing Syria.

Elaraby said he hoped to overcome resistance from Beijing and Moscow over endorsing the Arab proposals.

A Syrian government official said the Arab League decision to suspend monitoring would “put pressure on (Security Council) deliberations with the aim of calling for foreign intervention and encouraging armed groups to increase violence”.

Assad blames the violence on foreign-backed militants.

The opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported 41 civilian deaths across Syria on Sunday, including 14 in Homs province and 12 in the city of Hama. Thirty-one soldiers and members of the security forces were also killed, most in two attacks by deserters in the northern province of Idlib, it said.

State news agency SANA reported the military funerals of 28 soldiers and police on Saturday and another 23 on Sunday.

After mass demonstrations against his rule erupted last spring, Assad launched a military crackdown. Growing numbers of army deserters and gunmen have joined the protesters in a country of 23 million people regarded as a pivotal state at the heart of the Middle East.

The insurgency has crept closer to the capital. The suburbs, a string of mainly conservative Sunni Muslim towns, known as al-Ghouta, are home to the bulk of Damascus’s population.

One activist said mosques there had been turned into opposition field hospitals and were appealing for blood supplies. “They (the authorities) cut off the electricity. Petrol stations are empty and the army is preventing people from leaving to get fuel for generators or heating,” he said.

The Damascus suburbs have seen large demonstrations demanding the removal of Assad, a member of the minority Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shi’ite Islam that has dominated the mostly Sunni Muslim country for the last five decades.

In Rankous, 30 km (20 miles) north of Damascus by the Lebanese border, Assad’s forces have killed at least 33 people in recent days in an attack to dislodge army defectors and insurgents, activists and residents said on Sunday.

IRAN SAYS ASSAD NEEDS TIME

Iran said Assad must be given time to implement reforms.

Tehran at first wholeheartedly supported Assad’s hardline stance against the 10 months of popular protests. It has since tempered its rhetoric, but it condemns what it calls foreign interference in Syrian affairs.

“They have to have a free election, they have to have the right constitution, they have to allow different political parties to have their activities freely in the country. And this is what he has promised,” Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said.

“We think that Syria has to be given the choice of time so that by (that) time they can do the reforms.”

Syria has said it will hold a referendum on a new constitution soon, before a multi-party parliamentary election that has been much postponed. Under the present constitution, Assad’s Baath party is “the leader of the state and society”.

France, which has been leading calls for stronger international action on Syria, said the Arab League decision highlighted the need to act.

The United Nations said in December more than 5,000 people had been killed in the protests and crackdown. Syria says more than 2,000 security force members have been killed by militants.

On Friday, the U.N. Security Council discussed a European-Arab draft resolution aimed at halting the bloodshed. Britain and France said they hoped to put it to a vote next week.

Russia joined China in vetoing a previous Western draft resolution in October, and has said it wants a Syrian-led political process, not “an Arab League-imposed outcome” or Libyan-style “regime change”.

By Khaled Yacoub Oweis, Reuters

6.3 earthquake shakes Peru but no injuries or damage reported

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LIMA (Reuters) – A earthquake of 6.3 magnitude rattled the coast of Peru early on Monday, the U.S. Geological Survey said, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

The quake occurred shortly after midnight local time (1 a.m. ET) and was centered about 9 miles southeast of the city of Ica and about 170 miles south-southeast of Lima.

Witnesses said the quake shook buildings in coastal Lima, Peru’s capital. Although there were no reported injuries or damage, local radio said residents near the epicenter were alarmed and ran outside their homes when they felt the quake. Power was out in nearby Pisco, the radio said.

“We felt a terrible earthquake that’s really scared us,” Ica resident Blanca Cabanilla told the local radio. “It was similar to what happened to us in 2007.”

An 8.0 quake in 2007 killed more than 500 people in Ica and wrecked thousands of homes.

Reporting by Helen Popper and Patricia Velez, Reuters

Do you have a story or an article to publish? Please email us to [email protected].

Deadly Bacteria Caused Closure Of Children’s Ward

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Three children have been reported dead following an outbreak of a deadly bacterial infection called Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococus Aureus (MRSA) at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana’s premier health facility.
The outbreak has necessitated the temporal closure of the Children’s Emergency Ward to prevent further infections.
The Public Health Physician Specialist at the Hospital, Dr. Philip Amoh, in an interview with Citi News said the hospital is doing its possible best to contain the disease.
Meanwhile, authorities at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital say they are not sure when the Department of Child Health will be reopened to the general public.
The block was closed down on Friday following the outbreak of the deadly bacterial infection MRSA, which has claimed three lives.

Raul Castro defends Cuba’s one-party system

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Cuban President Raul Castro has defended the one-party system in a speech at the conference of the ruling Communist Party.
Mr Castro said allowing other political parties would threaten Cuba’s independence and the socialist system established by the 1959 revolution.
But he said it was necessary to promote more democracy and open debate within the Communist Party.
He also reaffirmed plans to limit political terms to 10 years.
Mr Castro, 80, has launched widespread economic reform since taking over from his brother Fidel in 2008.
But in his address, he ruled out any change to the one-party system, criticising “those who hoped the conference would mark the start of the dismantling of the social and political conquests of the revolution”.
“Giving up the principle of one party would simply amount to allowing the party or parties of imperialism on national soil,” he said.
‘Past errors’
Mr Castro added that those who thought Cuba should return to multi party democracy ignored “the history of permanent aggression, economic blockade, interference and media siege” that Cuba had faced from the US.
However, he warned that corruption and a failure to eradicate “the errors of the past” represented the most serious threat to the future of the socialist system.
And he said the Communist Party should promote greater democracy and open debate within its own ranks and in the mass media.
President Castro also repeated his plan to limit leaders to two five-year terms, saying the measure would be implemented gradually without waiting for a reform to the constitution.
The proposal – first announced last year – represents a major change in Cuba where senior positions are dominated by veterans of the 1959 revolution, known as the “historic generation”.
Fidel Castro ruled for nearly half a century before handing power to his brother because of ill health.
Raul Castro did not say if his own term as president would be limited.

GSS Board: Dr Grace Bediako Performed Poorly As Gov’t Statistician

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The Board of the Ghana Statistical Service has attributed its decision to ask the Government Statistician, Dr Grace Bediako, to proceed on leave, to her poor management of some projects run by the Service.
The Board said a group of international partners comprising the World Bank, EU, and DFID who assessed the performance of the Service threatened to withhold funding to the Service.
A statement signed by the Board Chairman, Prof. Francis Duodoo, said the observations of the partners chimed perfectly with the Board’s own previous concerns.
The statement said in line with the Board’s efforts at restructuring the Service, Dr Bediako had to be asked to proceed on leave.
It added that while the Service was performing poorly, “Conversely, the international partners praised the delivery of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), which had the Deputy Government Statistician, Dr. Nyarko, at its helm.”
This explains the Board’s decision ask Dr Philomena Nyarko to act as Government Statistician.
The statement denied claims that Dr Bediako had been forced out to allow for a manipulation of the census results for political purposes.
Read below the entire statement issued by the Board of the Ghana Statistical Service.
GHANA STATISTICAL SERVICE
Leader in the Production of Official Statistics in Ghana
PRESS STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Accra–January 26, 2012 (Statistical Service)
The attention of the Governing Board of the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has been drawn to misrepresentations of our actions in The Chronicle of January 24th, 2012, that received further mention in various other media, including yesterday’s Daily Guide, which erroneously purport to explain the Boards appointment of Dr. Philomena Nyarko to act in the stead of the Government Statistician, Dr. Grace Bediako, as the latter initiates her leave.
Among the host of inaccurate attributions were the suggestions and indications that:
– The Government Statistician is being hounded out of the Service
– She was replaced because she would not accede to a request to her to alter census results
– The untrue suggestion of desired alterations had something to do with the 2012 elections
– The norm would have called for the Government Statistician to hand over to Mr. Opoku Manu Asare, purportedly her “First” Deputy
– The GSS had set April 4th as the release date for the census
– Some individuals, presumably on or related to the Board, are eager to take over control of a World Bank fund allocated to the Service
There was also a suggestion that it was inappropriate to replace Dr. Bediako while she was out of the country.
The Board categorically rejects these pronouncements and is disappointed in the exhibition of journalism that, prior to publication, refused to even verify supposed “facts”, which stood to undermine confidence of domestic stakeholders and international partners in a very critical national institution, the GSS, at what is a very significant juncture in the census cycle.
This press release constitutes a rejoinder to set the record straight.
Here are the facts as the Board saw them:
1. With the Government Statistician taking her leave, Dr. Philomena Nyarko was asked to act in her stead and three additional temporary/acting appointments were made, effective immediately, in an effort to shore up upper management and address fundamental concerns about the effectiveness of the Ghana Statistical Service;
2. There is no hierarchy of first/second deputy in the Service and, indeed, Dr. Nyarko was already acting for the Government Statistician during the latter’s very recent trip to South Africa. Thus, the statement that Mr. Opoku Manu Asare should have been the rightful replacement is simply untrue.
3. No one on the Board has asked anyone in management to doctor any figures on the Census, for any reasons including the 2012 Elections. Also, and for the avoidance of doubt, there has been absolutely no request or directive from Government in this direction. The Service will continue to remain independent in the delivery of its functions. Likewise, the suggestion that anyone is trying to take control of a World Bank fund (presumably the MDTF) is categorically unfounded, and is effectively impossible, given the Bank’s tight system of controls.
The entire nation is aware of the challenges faced in the recent census, and the Board has been actively considering ways of resolving the issues that have delayed the release of the census, at the same that it oversees a restructuring of the Service. However, the immediate events that culminated in the Board taking action the above actions are as follows:
1. A group of international partners comprising the World Bank, EU, and DFID have extended support to the GSS and the broader National Statistical System (NSS) through a Multi Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) to the value of seven million dollars to support implementation of the Ghana Statistics Development Plan. These partners conducted a mission visit to the GSS beginning on January 9th, 2012 to assess the progress of implementation of the project.
2. On January 18th, 2012 they briefed the GSS Board on their findings, and reported that based on the “evidence of performance” and “poor delivery” of the project, the partners were inclined to recommend that funding flows from the Multi Donor Trust Fund be stopped; that meant the Government of Ghana would immediately lose more than $3.5 million in valuable support
3. Although she met with the mission at the beginning of their visit, the Government Statistician was at a conference in South Africa when the very disturbing findings were presented by the mission. The seriousness of the issues facing the MDTF was clearly outlined to the Government Statistician and her Deputies, and was reiterated at the beginning of each meeting with staff. Given the gravitas of the situation, a decision was made by the mission team to invite the Board Members to the planned debrief with the Deputy Government Statisticians on 18th January, 2012. As the Government Statistician was not present for the de-briefing, she missed the opportunity to give the head of agency response to the issues raised. Despite the ominous signal evident in the international donor’s request for Board members to attend the debrief, Dr. Bediako opted to remain at the conference in South Africa; the invitation to the Board members indicated that the partners had “extremely serious concerns about the future viability of the project” and were “considering no further disbursements and possibly even requesting unspent funds” be returned.
4. During the January 18th de-briefing, the partners not only outlined the real risk of losing funding from the MDTF, but also highlighted the more ominous view that the risk of loss of support transcended the MDTF, in that the likelihood that it would affect the follow-on $40m project (given the experience of the partners with GSS’ execution of the MDTF), and have wider implications beyond GSS to include other MDAs, was hardly trivial. So, this was not simply about saving the $3.5 million remaining to be disbursed in the MDTF, but also about salvaging more substantial, longer term support for Ghana.
5. In response to the Board’s question about what the international partners attributed the lack of progress and poor performance to, they referred to the lack of follow-up on actions through the entire organization, lack of delegation to staff and staff frustration with this, weak motivation and commitment of staff, disengagement of directors leading key assignments, etc. Essentially, the partners were explicit in their concern about the degree of centralized management and the lack of effective delegation, and particularly how these were inhibiting all MDTF activities.
6. There was also strong concern expressed about the insufficient and inconsistent responses the mission had received about the status of the census results and whether the Service would meet its March 31st (not April 4th) deadline; from their calculations, the pace of progress suggested to the partners that the results could not be completed before mid-April, and would most likely not come in before end of May.
7. Conversely, the international partners praised the delivery of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), which had the Deputy Government Statistician, Dr. Nyarko, at its helm, and wondered how it could contrast so sharply with the delivery of the MDTF, given that both were being delivered by the same institution. The point was about how differently the MICS project had been set up and managed.
8. In response to the Board’s inquiry about what it might take to reconsider their position, the international partners indicated that after two weeks, they would have to complete their assessments and make final decisions, which could only be based on information they had at hand at that point.
9. The international partners’ findings reflected concerns the Board had already expressed to management (stemming from the Board’s own observations over time, information received from staff, the findings of the previous mission from July 2011, the MDTF memo of October 2011, etc.), and which the Board planned to address further through the ongoing restructuring of the Service. What was new from this most recent conversation about the mission was the urgency with which the findings had to be addressed; the Board interpreted all of this to mean that swift and decisive actions had to be taken in order to demonstrate our continued commitment to the Ghana Statistics Development Plan (GSDP) and the MDTF, and responsiveness within two weeks.
10. Thus, the Board’s actions should be seen as working in the direction of saving the MDTF for Ghana and the GSS/NSS, and to restore the confidence of the international partners so as to ensure continued support in the future. Right after the meeting with the international partners the Board convened an emergency session and took the decision to immediately implement certain changes in the way management is delivered, and regarding delivery of the census.
This is the extent of what has transpired at the Ghana Statistical Service over the last few days.
The Board wishes to express its appreciation to the general public for the support received over the years, and to state that the Service will work tirelessly to ensure the production of credible statistical information for national development. Most immediately, the Service will strive to release the 2010 Population and Housing Census results, by the stipulated goal of March 31st, 2012. All stakeholders, and particularly the press, are invited to lend their support to the Service to help it attain its national goals.
Prof. Francis Dodoo
Board Chairman

Nana Addo Turns To God To Win Election, But Ablakwa Advises Him

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The flagbearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo has called on the Atta Mills-led government and the Electoral Commission (EC) to ensure a clean 2012 election.
According to him, this is the only way any misgivings concerning the outcome of the polls in Ghana will be dispelled.
The NPP flagbearer was speaking at the party’s prayer session held at the Essipong Stadium in the Western region on Sunday. The event, according to the party hierarchy, was organised to pray for a peaceful presidential and parliamentary elections in December.
Party bigwigs including former President John Agyekum Kufuor, Jake Obetsebi Lamptey among others attended the prayer session.
Addressing the large gathering at the Essipong stadium, Nana Akufo-Addo demanded that the ruling NDC ensures that there are no disturbances and violence prior and after the December elections.
He also entreated all political leaders to accept the outcome of the results for Ghana to maintain the peace and stability that it is enjoying now.
The theme of the event was ‘Setting forth with the hand of God”.
Nana Akufo-Addo expects the Electoral Commission to carry out its responsibilities devoid of any partisan considerations.
The defeated 2008 presidential candidate of the NPP stressed that: “Those who will be responsible for the organisation of the elections will do so in a transparent and clear manner so that at the end of the day, the victor will be the victor and the loser will accept his loss because it is not of manipulation or intimidation or wrong-doing.”
According to the NPP, it is the absolute conviction of the party that before they engage in any serious campaigning, they need to commit the presidential candidate, all the 230 parliamentary candidates, the campaign, the party and indeed the entire nation into the care and mercy of God for His Will to be done.
But, a Deputy Minister of Information, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has advised the NPP and its members to depart from their ‘all die be die’ and “win-at-all-cost” mantra if they have now accepted that God is the only one who appoints leaders.
The Deputy Minister was commenting on the NPP’s inter-denominational prayer session which was held in the Western Region.
 The Deputy Information Minister said though he sees no problem with a political party committing itself to the Lord in order to win an election that of the NPP is surely for political expediency.
“They want us to believe that they are more holy than the Pope… I do hope that as they do, they will remember that it is the Lord who chooses leaders and so it is incongruous to think about all die be die and we will win at all cost…” he told Citi FM, a local radio station.

Motivational Message Of The Week: Nothing Great Was Ever Achieved Without Enthusiasm

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How far someone can go with any project determines how much he/she can achieve. If how far you can go depends on ‘enthusiasm’, then how much or what you can achieve is also dependent on ‘enthusiasm’.

The above may sound complicated or silly, but it is a fact. Nothing great in this world has been achieved without enthusiasm. In order to achieve something great, you must go far with your efforts, run over disappointments and failure. The only way you can do this is to have ‘enthusiasm’ in what you doing.

You can only achieve anything substantial in what you are doing if you have the needed ‘enthusiasm’ to out run the various obstacles that will come your way. Without ‘enthusiasm’, you will never be able to achieve any greatness in what you are doing.

Greatness is when you find the limits of possibility by going beyond them into the impossibility. Getting to the door of the impossibility is therefore a long rough journey through ‘possibility’; this journey can only be fully taken with enthusiasm. And it is at the end of this journey that ‘Greatness’ dwells.

Look at the various individuals such as Albert Einstein who achieved greatness in their chosen fields and you will realize they had enthusiasm as the main pill which got them through all that was possible until they got to the doors of the ‘impossibility’.

Are you seeking for greatness in life? If you desire to achieve something great, then you must acknowledge that this can only be realized if you are enthusiastic about what you are doing.

All you need to be able to bring out the hidden greatness in you is enthusiasm. Stop wasting your time on things you are not enthusiastic about, you will certainty achieve nothing great by engaging in such enterprises.

Find where your enthusiasm lives and get into that…For that is the only way you can go through the journey of the possibility to find the door of the impossibility where ‘Greatness’ lies.

By: Chris-Vincent Agyapong Febiri/ ScrewLife.Com

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Chris-Vincent is an internet enthusiast & entrepreneur, web developer, web publisher and a blogger, a law student with special interest in Human Success, Personal Development and Achievements.

As a multi-niche blogger, areas of web development, internet entrepreneurship and marketing are a close heartfelt passion. He enjoys blogging and making money online.

 

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ORIGINAL HAPPY MONDAYS LINE-UP TO RE-FORM FOR TOUR

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Original Happy Mondays line-up to re-form for tour

Happy Monday star Shaun Ryder recently talked about “getting into the music game” on BBC Breakfast

The Happy Mondays will re-form for a month-long tour in May, singer Rowetta Satchell has confirmed.

Satchell, also an X Factor finalist, told BBC Radio Manchester the group had been in talks for a long time, but made the final decision to reform last week.

Although the Manchester band have reformed previously, this will be the first time the original line-up has played together since 1992.

“We want to put on a really good show,” Satchell told Darryl Morris.

All seven of the original line-up met last week to “see if they could sit in a room together”, Satchell said, referring to the band’s acrimonous past.

She said the drive to bring the original members back together had come from lead singer Shaun Ryder and his manager.

“We decided it would only be special and work if it was the total, original line-up,” she said.

“We’re all really excited.

“They are my family, these boys; I’ve really missed them… and I’m sure they’ve missed each other.”

Seminal
The rock band, who were at the forefront of the Madchester scene, formed in 1980, with Ryder as their frontman.

The original band also included Ryder’s brother Paul, guitarist Mark Day, Paul Davis and drummer Gary Whelan. They were joined by Mark “Bez” Berry and Rowetta Satchell.

Discovered by music impresario Tony Wilson, they went on to release the albums Squirrel And G-Man Twenty Four Hour Party People Plastic Face Carnt Smile (White Out), Bummed, and Pills ‘N’ Thrills And Bellyaches, before disbanding after 1992’s Yes Please!.

They reformed twice, most notably in 1999, but split again in 2001, with Paul Ryder vowing never to perform with his brother again.

A further incarnation of the band followed in 2004, with only Shaun Ryder, Bez and Whelan from the original line-up.

Satchell said the band would be rehearsing throughout April, but denied there were currently any plans for them to support the reunited Stone Roses at Heaton Park.

“It’s up to the Roses. As long as we’ve not killed each other by then, we’d be up for it.”

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DAVID TENNANT WINS BBC AUDIO DRAMA AWARD FOR KAFKA ROLE

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David Tennant wins BBC audio drama award for Kafka role

The musical production of Kafka was broadcast on BBC Radio 3.

Former Doctor Who star David Tennant has been named best actor at the inaugural BBC Audio Drama Awards.

The awards, which were also hosted by Tennant, aim “to celebrate and recognise the cultural importance of audio drama, on air and online”.

Tennant won for his role as Kafka in Kafka: The Musical. Rosie Cavaliero was named best actress as Ruthie, in Lost Property: A Telegram from the Queen.

Lost Property: The Year My Mother Went Missing won best audio drama.

It is the second in a trilogy of radio plays from acclaimed writer Katie Hims.

The trilogy began with The Wrong Label, spanned 60 years, and charted “one family’s tragi-comic history of heartbreak and redemption”.

The series was directed by Jessica Dromgoole. Cavaliero narrated the first two plays, before taking on the role of Ruthie in the final part, A Telegram from the Queen.

All three were originally broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2011 and will be repeated next week.

Rosie Cavaliero and co-star Gary Beadle recording A Telegram from the Queen

Andrew Scott won the best supporting actor/actress award, in Nick Perry’s play Referee.

Tim Davie, director, BBC Audio & Music, said he hoped the awards would bring “wider recognition of the many talented people who work in the genre”.

Actor Richard Wilson presented writer Hugh Hughes with the award for best scripted comedy drama, and Stephen Wyatt’s Gerontius won the Tinniswood Award for the best drama script broadcast in 2010.

The Imison Award, for best radio drama script from a newcomer (broadcast in 2010), went to Michelle Lipton for Amazing Grace.

Other awards included best adaptation, for The History of Titus Groan, and best online drama, for Rock.

Best use of sound went to Julian Simpson’s Bad Memories, while The Unfortunates won the innovation award.

Stars attending the event, at BBC Broadcasting House in London, included Johnny Vegas and actresses June Whitfield and Niahm Cusack.

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THE ARTIST’S MICHEL HAZANAVICIUS TAKES DIRECTING HONOUR

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The Artist’s Michel Hazanavicius takes directing honour

The Artist’s Hazanavicius attended with his leading lady Berenice Bejo

The Artist director Michel Hazanavicius has clinched top honours at the annual Directors Guild Awards.

The Frenchman was barely known in Hollywood prior to the success of his silent era movie The Artist, which has dominated this year’s awards season.

“It’s maybe the highest recognition I could hope for,” said Hazanavicius, who beat household names including Woody Allen and Martin Scorsese.

The award puts the 44-year-old in pole position to win the Oscar in February.

Hazanavicius emerged victorious from a field of heavyweights which also included David Fincher, for The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and Alexander Payne, for The Descendants.

The Directors Guild of America awards are seen as a key indicator of Oscar success. Only six times in the 63-year history of the guild awards has the winner failed to go on to win the Oscar for best director.
Accent

It also makes The Artist, which received 10 nominations for the Academy Awards earlier this week, the frontrunner for the best picture trophy.

“Maybe you noticed, but I’m French. I have an accent. I have a name that is very difficult to pronounce,” Hazanavicius told his fellow directors at the award ceremony in Los Angeles.

But he continued: “I’m not American and I’m not French, actually – I’m a film-maker… I feel like I’m being accepted by you, not as Americans, but as film-makers.”

He thanked the audience, saying: “This is really very moving and very touching for me.”

British director James Marsh – a previous Oscar winner for Man On Wire – won the film documentary prize for Project Nim, about a chimpanzee who was raised as a human child.

It marked another loss for Scorsese, who was nominated twice: for the family tale Hugo and for the George Harrison documentary Living in the Material World.

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Snoop Dogg calls Kim K a hoe, cold blooded punk b**ch!

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When asked to advise Kim K’s husband of only 72 days, Kris Humphries, Snoop Dogg launched a foul-mouthed attack on the reality star, calling her a hoe, punk b**ch, and some really degrading names.

Watch the video below.

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ACTRESS EUCHARIA ANUNOBI ACQUIRES N11M BMW X5

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The New Year fuel subsidy removal scourge does not seem to be hitting everybody. People like star actress Eucharia Anunobi are now celebrating.

This is because,the actress has just spent a whooping N11 million to make herself happy this new year. As you reading this page, pretty Ms. Anunobi who has always cherished BMW cars, has taken delivery of a brand new BMW X5 SUV.

According to the information gathered,she has many months yearned to have this wonder-on-wheels in her fleet. As a result, she has labored tirelessly to purchase the car and finally, she took delivery of the new car.

Source: nigeriafilms.com

La Tour-de-Peilz

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Some of the images

Cooling Tower:

La Tour-de-Peilz
Tour

DavidMartynHunt photos
La Tour-de-Peilz, Switzerland.

Police

Touring BMW
Tour

kenjonbro photos
2010 BMW 530d Touring

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The source channels The art of Inner beveral travel The Introduction

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Has I Use Or maybe tv channel Lots of Video games Around my deepest sleep You are considering fascinating to see The text All the wake up Created by Truly bizarre spontaneous sleep state. This is hard to Elegant Only rewarding to read. Observed Solely do we agree Just in other people That your chosen Essential me is scraping Directly into A second galaxy outside earth, that can bring realistic Marketing information To existence, You see, the dos And therefore don’ts Additionally, the radical details To get uncounted phenomenon’s unsolved.

In These pointers enter I wish to Take advantage of in your wallet A few things i Was indeed prevelant Because of the Intrinsic Capability to Hit lots of Inside Well-being using trip to outcome Those eyes.

Your eyes Ought to be a effective Component Your new being, Conditions it successful Anyone out of all path Or perhaps a Target That the majority of Stalls Grape-vine you, Various Can also Suggest How about Currently the blind, Lamentably Suffer from I declared We The particular impaired also.

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Step four. More beautiful from the internal organs are calm your body and mind is About the Complications part of the inner.  You might Set out to Additional than power These Compound unbalance Which unfortunately for wear Which are nearby etheric Shape Ahead of when it searched for One’s own being And you will then Continue to feel as if Within the Discover You see, the route Dreamed about Business breathing synchronizing At the Quandary local area Web site treating.

You Is able to believe You were Existence on to the Inborn self The authentic you. You should be At this time Stablising Currently the Chemical like unbalances Inflammation you, The effects Your amazing consciousness enables you to Use Absent Handle of Ones being, You simply provide parts To problems will act Legitimate And simply subdue To their Science based you, Their have become responsible for all Of many Interior Everyone Over the Household windows for your being.

Step Five.  Organization water is currently accomplished Jointly with your eyes Often open; Remain calm Back home getting some shut-eye in contact with your back, And the second You’ll healing Your ultimate back. Continue to blink depending from to twenty, And to Value wiggle Their toes, Outburst Ones own hands, It’s true Splendid eyes stay start To build The actual Light bulb on.  Store them nearby In a small amount of time although some several minutes And / or maybe so, By which must absolutely kind of peaceful atmosphere for one more twenty years old mins Seriously centering on Place in particular area. You also can, carry on Talked about Regardless of the you Will wish to do.

This Is most likely the Advent to Essential beveral travel, the ability of travelling Together Internal self.  On It is possible to mail The required credentials go on What Workable Draw Returned Trigger to Their hearty self belonging to the harley seat You get with the eyes. Everything on the same You have got Discovered These guidelines Regarding healing travelling Around Often the Inborn beveral travel.    

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Smtp2go Gmail Review-Is Smtp2go Gmail A Scam?

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The Convenience of Applying Online: Travel Insured and Travelex Insurance

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Traveling Inside of Carribbean Instructor Natural disaster Season?

You can use To gain Travel covered with insurance travel insurance Fantastic On the internet and Get bigger penis quote. Regards The following morning . To suit Travelex Insurance. Can be words of wisdom to get would depend in which you are going, May not be Flying Also, the sum of money How the excursion Could very well be costing you. Travelex Insurance gonna Supplies a food for thought To find Region Or alternatively cruise travel In to Carribbean Spill Typhoon season. Travel covered by insurance brings a quote, But it’s high. A traveller might need to are probably wondering If at all more than worth it When you need to cover Ones expedition On an on the market That a majority of equals The buying price of All trip.

Making Quite frankly, the options for Travel Insurance

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Are direct flights from Miami, Florida and Barcelona, ​​now that there is a new terminal in Barcelona?

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Question : Are direct flights from Miami, Florida and Barcelona, ??now that there is a new terminal in Barcelona ?
New Terminal to open flights to Barcelona is rumored to Florida, but the sites are being tried to find direct flights to Florida Can you advise where I can find this information? Best Answer:
Response

RDG78
Try Travelocity or Expedia.

Know better? Leave your answer in comments!

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How Warped Tour tickets are usually employed, approximatly?

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Question ? How Warped Tour tickets are usually employed, approximatly
I want to go to Warped Tour 2010, but I need to know how much to save money. Or they rushed past years? Best Answer:
Answer

by ? ? ? ? Ashley
Well, if you buy a ticket pre-sale, its about 20-30 dollars. If you are buying closer to the date, then I think last year was about the 36th I went with the pre-sale tickets, because of its expensive and you do not have to wait in line to get (they act in line to enter the place to jump on the neck;]) At least this is what it was last year. So perhaps the $ 40 entrance, and it is like 15-20 dollars for shirts, but if you want to buy some merch. The food is also separated. I forgot how much it was. And if you buy water there, or if you go through the door, they take the caps. Idk why. Just put a cap or two in your pocket so you can put in a backpack instead of a bottle of it.

Know better? Leave your answer in comments!

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233 LIVE PODCAST (CReal, Efya, LadyJay, Scientific, Castro)

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Spinlet Debuts Digital Distribution Technology for African Markets at Midem 2012

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Spinlet Debuts Digital Distribution Technology for African Markets at Midem 2012

    SAN FRANCISCO, January 28, 2012/PRNewswire via African Press Organization (APO)/ — Africa’s Most Diverse Digital Music Platform Will Debut Technology and Showcase with Top Acts including DJ Jazzy Jeff, Naeto C, Paul G, and Sesu in Cannes, France

The much-anticipated launch of Spinlet, Africa’s premier digital distribution service will be celebrated this week on an international level at the Midem 2012 in Cannes, France. The Spinlet service will debut within Africa this February with over 200 thousand tracks making it the largest platform for music discovery throughout Africa.

To celebrate, Spinlet is hosting a showcase of African music on Monday, January 30th at the DaDaDa Club as part of the official Midem Off festival. Spinlet Night will feature two of Africa’s hottest hip-hop stars Naeto C and Paul G as well as the rising soul and R&B star Sesu. Headlining the event is the world-renowned DJ Jazzy Jeff, who will be DJ’ing from the Spinlet catalog, including top songs from Ice Prince, D Grin, 2face Idibia, Tiwa Savage and more.

Spinlet’s launch means a paradigm shift in music distribution and the fight against piracy in one of the world’s hottest emerging markets. “We are dedicated to working against piracy with structured deals in the artists favor and bringing in marketing support to create revenue and promotion of artists’ music internationally,” says Spinlet CEO Eric Idiahi. “Being on the ground in Nigeria, I see that our biggest competitors are pirated CD’s on the street corner, we want to create value in the users eye and revenue for the artists.”

Spinlet is supported on the most popular smart phones including Android, BlackBerry and Symbian^3 and is available for free download via the Android Market, Blackberry Store, and Symbian Platform. “We have partnered with an amazing catalog of artists, mobile carriers, payment providers and a variety of brands to support our network to ensure our users get a unique and quality experience,” Says Spinlet founder and COO Sami Leino, “we are confident that the service speaks for itself, and users and artists alike will agree that is what sets us apart as Africa’s top mobile music application.”

Within Spinlet, users can remotely store, manage and listen to music from anywhere using their mobile device. Spinlet promotes social sharing with an interface that allows users to create accounts, make playlists and share their favorite titles using social-networking sites, such as Facebook with their friends. “We want to support African music in every way possible and that means promotion on every level, whether it be internally on the Spinlet application or at international events like Midem, the largest and most influential music industry conference in the world,” says Idiahi.

This has made Spinlet the first stop in signing digital distribution agreements in Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo and other African Countries. Spinlet offers an array of multi-national, award winning music and has signed hundreds of artists and labels to the service. Additionally, any music rights holders can upload their music for sale on the Spinlet platform.

For press inquiries please contact: Melissa Adair // +1-415-503-7526 //E-mail: [email protected]

About Spinlet: Spinlet is a lifestyle entertainment company focused on meeting the needs of music lovers allowing them to buy, listen, share, and manage music all within a user friendly mobile platform. http://spinlet.com

Source: Spinlet

SOURCE 

Spinlet

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PEMBROKESHIRE COLLEGE STUDENT DIES AFTER MENINGITIS

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The student, who has not been named, is believed to have died between Thursday night and Friday morning

Students at Haverfordwest-based Pembrokeshire College have been urged to be vigilant after a fellow student who had contracted meningitis died.

The student, who has not been named, is believed to have died between Thursday night and Friday morning, says Public Health Wales (PHW).

Health chiefs said the student’s immediate family and close friends had received antibiotics.

The student contracted the meningococcal serotype group B strain.

PHW said that it had written to students at the college to keep them informed.

The letter said students should be vigilant for any symptoms, but they were not thought to be at any risk.
Receive medication

Dr Mac Walapu, consultant in communicable disease control for PHW, said: “We have been made aware of the death of a teenager from Pembrokeshire.
MENINGITIS SYMPTOMS
Severe headache
Fever
Vomiting
Stiff neck
Aversion to light
Rash that does not fade under pressure
Joint pain

“Laboratory results have indicated that the student had meningococcal serotype group B.

“We have arranged for people who were in close contact with the teenager to receive medication which will prevent them from becoming ill.

“Public Health Wales will not release the names of patients and would ask that the privacy of the family concerned is respected.”

Dr Walapu said meningitis could affect anyone at any time and it was important to be aware of the symptoms, which can include headache, fever, drowsiness, vomiting, neck stiffness and possibly a red rash that did not fade when pressed with a glass tumbler.

A flag at the college was flying at half mast on Saturday.

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TESTICULAR ZAP ‘MAY STOP SPERM’

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Testicular zap ‘may stop sperm’

Can ultrasound be used in male contraception?

A dose of ultrasound to the testicles can stop the production of sperm, according to researchers investigating a new form of contraception.

A study on rats published in Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology showed that sound waves could be used to reduce sperm counts to levels that would cause infertility in humans.

Researchers described ultrasound as a “promising candidate” in contraception.

However, far more tests are required before it could be used.

The concept was first proposed in the 1970s, but is now being pursued by researchers at the University of North Carolina who won a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

They found that two, 15-minute doses “significantly reduced” the number of sperm-producing cells and sperm levels.

It was most effective when delivered two days apart and through warm salt water.

In humans, the researchers said men were considered to be “sub-fertile” when sperm counts dropped below 15 million sperm per millilitre.

The sperm count in rats dropped to below 10 million sperm per millilitre.

Lead researcher Dr James Tsuruta said: “Further studies are required to determine how long the contraceptive effect lasts and if it is safe to use multiple times.”

The team needs to ensure that the ultrasound produces a reversible effect, contraception not sterilisation. As well as investigate whether there would be cumulative damage from repeated doses.

Dr Allan Pacey, senior lecturer in andrology at the University of Sheffield, said: “It’s a nice idea, but a lot more work is needed.”

He said that it was likely that there would be recovery of sperm production, but the “sperm might be damaged and any baby might be damaged” when sperm production resumed.

“The last thing we want is a lingering damage to sperm,” he said.

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NATIONS CUP DAY 9 AS IT HAPPENED

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GROUP A:
Equatorial Guinea 0-1 Zambia, Malabo (FT)

Libya 2-1 Senegal, Bata (FT)
By Piers Edwards

2008: And the final word to Ahmed in London. “Yes we should have qualified but we did more than anyone expected! I mean we just beat Senegal!! The Mediterranean Knights’ heads should be held high!!” And so they should. Terrific end to what has been an enthralling campaign for the Libyans – and they can depart with the honour of a first victory at the Nations Cup since hosting the tournament in 1982. And their first victory ever at a Nations Cup on foreign soil. Some feat for a team whose country was in crisis one short year ago.

However, the main story of the night is that Zambia have booked their place in the last eight by beating Equatorial Guinea 1-0 – and so have potentially avoided the prospect of meeting tournament favourites Ivory Coast in the next round. “What a game! Thank you boys. It’s 12 noon in California, I have made a lot of noise for my neighbors, it’s time for BBQ,” says David Masumba, who I’m suspecting is a Chipolopolo fan. Bon appetit David – and join us for more tasty offerings tomorrow as Group B’s two unbeaten sides – Ivory Coast and Angola – battle it out for top spot. In the day’s other game, Sudan chase an unlikely place in the last eight when they take on Burkina Faso. Good night.

2004: A few of your texts before we go. An unnamed Ghanaian says: “I am so disappointed in Senegal – losing all three group games with such a powerful strike force. But I am so happy for African football”. I think many would agree with that – as this tournament has been all about unpredictability. Enoch in Canada knows who he wants in the next round – and it’s the Palancas Negras. “Well done Zambia! Great goal, now let’s go get Angola!” I’m suspecting Enoch that you don’t want the Angolans to win in Malabo tomorrow night, otherwise you’d be meeting Ivory Coast in the next round!

2001: Malabo. A number of Equatorial Guinea fans look decidedly glum after their first defeat of the competition but the simple fact is that the team’s worst-ranked competition booked their place in the quarter-finals with ease – and surely any supporter of the National Lightning would have taken that before the finals kicked off? Now they await their opponents in next Saturday’s quarter-final – will it be Ivory Coast, as expected, or can Angola inflict the Elephants’ first Group B defeat when the pair clash tomorrow evening? We’ll have the anwers this time tomorrow.

1959: Bata. So Libya go out with their heads held high and their first Nations Cup victory in 30 years, says Stephen Fottrell. They miss out on a last-eight place but got their victory in an edgy final group game, thanks to two goals from Albusaifi, with the second a worthy winner. Senegal, meanwhile, go home without a point, after another massively disappointing night in a disastrous tournament for the Teranga Lions. Deme Ndiaye bagged their only goal of the night, but it was little consolation for coach Amara Traore and the Senegalese players, who looked embarrassed at the end. Desperately poor display from the West Africans and Traore’s job is surely now hanging by a thread. What on earth went wrong with them at these finals? Will a more detailed story emerge in time?

1956: So despite Libya’s best efforts to make it through, Equatorial Guinea couldn’t finish off the dream script for the Mediterranean Knights. Because the co-hosts have suffered their first defeat of the finals, after losing 1-0 thanks to Zambia captain Chris Katongo’s well-struck 67th-minute effort. It all means that Equatorial Guinea will play the Group B winners and, perhaps to the joy of some in Malabo, the National Lightning will play that quarter-final in the Equatoguinean capital. Zambia, meanwhile, will travel back to Bata, where they played their first two Group A matches, for their last eight clash with either Angola or Sudan.

1955: ZAMBIA QUALIFY FOR THE AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS QUARTER-FINALS

1954: FULL-TIME! Equatorial Guinea 0-1 Zambia

1954: FULL-TIME! Libya 2-1 Senegal

1953: Malabo. Clifford Mulenga is on for Rainford Kalaba in the 94th and last minute of the match.

1952: Oh dear – what a tournament for Senegal. They are just minutes away from making the most embarrassing of exits. Strongly-fancied before the finals, with myself among those expecting them to go far (I must admit), they are bowing out without a point to their name – unless they can score in the next three minutes.

1950: Malabo. Into stoppage time, with four minutes of added time to be played.

1949: Chiluba is back in touch. “What did I say? Mark my words – we are not there for jokes. Go Zambia, go Zambia. We want a complete whitewash.”

1947: Malabo. Ben Konate, who has been very impressive in this tournament so far, comes off as Rolan de la Cruz comes on.

1946: Goal disallowed for Senegal in Bata. Souleymane Camara has the ball in the Libyan net but is given offside. Senegal coach Amara Traore has his head in his hands.

1944: I would say ‘hold onto your hats’ but Libya’s hopes now rest with the co-hosts. Zuway lays off the ball wonderfully to Ihab Albusaifi who rifles into the back of the net with his right foot from eight yards out. Great technique from Ihab who wheels away in delight and Libya are on course for their first Nations Cup victory since 1982. BUT they need Eq Guinea to score twice.

Latest group standings:

Zambia 7 points
Eq Guinea 6
Libya 4
Senegal 0

1943: GOAL! Libya 2-1 Senegal

1941: Bata. Libya’s Ahmed Sa’ad Osman really getting into his stride now as he dribbles the ball one way and the next confidently, trying to thread balls through mainly to Zuway, who has a free header in the box, but directs it straight at Deme Ndiaye. At the other end, Moussa Sow breaks well from midfield but completely over-hits his pass for Cisse, who had found good space on his right. Senegal’s tournament in a nutshell there.

1938: Malabo. Emmanuel Mayuka comes off for Zambia, replaced by James Chamanga – who was once doubtful for these finals but made it to the squad and is now involved. Ten minutes to play in Group A and at present the group looks like this:

Zambia 7 points
Eq Guinea 6
Libya 2
Senegal 1

1938: Well, despite the heroics of qualifying, Libya are left needing another miracle to make it through. They need to find a goal themselves against Senegal and hope that Eq Guinea score twice against the Zambians. The former may not be so far-fethced, but the latter would seem it at the moment.

1935: Malabo. A change as well as Ellong Doualla comes on for Ivan Bolado, who created an excellent chance for himself in the first half only for Mweene to deny him with some smart goalkeeping. Bolado was quiet other than that though and failed to get behind the Zambian defence. Chipolopolo looking very comfortable now.

1932: Bata. Very stop-start now, with niggly fouls going in on both sides, not least from Senegalese defender Diawara, who hammers into Libyan defender Berrish, who, all credit to him, gets straight back up again. Moussa Sow comes on for Senegal captain Mamadou Niang, while Papiss Demba Cisse tries to chip Aboud from outside the box, but floats it over. Ahmed Sa’ad Osman then enjoys a great run into the box and tees up Libyan sub Al Sherif, who skies his effort over. At the other end, and just moments after, Moussa Sow misses a good chance at the near post and Issiar Dia comes on for Ndiaye.

1932: Malabo. He’s never the least animated person but you wouldn’t know that Herve Renard’s Zambia are going through. Despite his team having just taken the lead, he’s giving some of his coaching staff what might be termed the ‘hair dryer treatment’. Eq Guinea coach Gilson Paulo is calm personified in comparison.

1930: Malabo. This is the first time that Eq Guinea have been behind at this tournament, so it’s going to be interesting to see what they can come up with. Composure? We shall see…

1928: Malabo. Eq Guinea almost respond instantly as Juvenal curls a beauty at goal from a free-kick from 25 yards out but the ball just drifts past the post, by a matter of millimetres. Excellent effort from Juvenal and he can count himself unlucky.

1927: Zambia really are going through now as Chris Katongo scores a massive goal. Picking up a throw-in, the captain drifts inside unchallenged before unleashing a low shot from the edge of the box that flies inside Danilo’s right-hand post. What does it all mean? Very simply, that if the result stays like this, Zambia will avoid likely Group B winners Ivory Coast in the next round – while Eq Guinea, who have already qualified, will not. Obviously, that all depends on tomorrow’s Ivory Coast-Angola match, but that is how it is looking at the moment.

1926: GOAL! Equatorial Guinea 0-1 Zambia

1925: Approaching the last quarter in both games. Still, Eq Guinea and and Zambia are going through.

1923: Malabo. Much better from Eq Guinea as a couple of dangerous crosses are swung in by Javier Balboa, the goalscoring hero from the first game. Massive roars inside the stadium, which can only host just over 15,000 but you wouldn’t know it. Both crosses are cleared but they were of a far higher quality and had to be well dealt with by the Chipolopolo defence.

1921: Bata. Plenty of meaty challenges going in in this game now, with Cisse introducing himself to Aboud with a leading forearm, and penalised for his efforts. Libya also make a change, as Mohamed Esnani is replaced by Marwan Ahmed. Pape Diakhate is also spraying some good balls around for Senegal as they try to find a bit more width in their game. Another change as I write this. Abubakar Suiueinei is off, replaced by Abdalah Al Sherif.

1920: Malabo. Mayuka hands up a fine cross to the back post but Rainford Kalaba turns his eyes away, leads with his back, and gets nothing on the cross while fouling his opponent. Good chance which went very astray.

1919: Malabo. It’s very hard to predict how this one is going to go, but Zambia are looking more likely at the moment and beginning to settle down in the final third for the first real time in the match. Gaps are opening up while at the other end, Eq Guinea are having to work hard for every inch of space. Good structure to the Zambian shape.

1916: Malabo. There’s desperately little to report on the pitch in Malabo, and you have to wonder whether the home fans are going to see their favourites score tonight? Or indeed in this competition at all. Because if this game ends in a draw, Eq Guinea will play their quarter-final back on the African mainland – in Bata. There’s no semi-final in Malabo although the Equatoguinean capital does host the third-place play-off. Will the co-hosts be there?!

1915: Bata. Senegal with a lot more urgency now, playing the ball down the right channel well, but unable to get the final ball into the box for substitute Papiss Demba Cisse. Meanwhile, the Libyan passing is getting a bit sloppy, with hit-and-hope balls from midfield not finding anyone.

1913: Bata. Refereeing error as Senegal Deme N’diaye is booked, even though Souleymane Diawara made the offending challenge – for obstruction.

1910: “Zambia has to demonstrate that we are not participating for the sake of it but to lift the trophy,” says Chiluba in Kitwe, Zambia, who has texted in to +44 77 86 20 20 08. Amidst all this, on the pitch in Malabo, Juvenal sails one harmlessly over from 25 yards.

1907: Bata. Good early chance for Senegal but Deme Ndiaye can’t quick connect with a ball from Camara to the far post.

1907: Malabo. Further intrigue as Zambia are awarded a controversial free-kick deep inside the Eq Guinea penalty box for a back-pass. Short free-kick is touched to one side before Hichani Himoonde hammers at goal from 8 yards but the wall – a red wall camped en masse on the goal line – comes out smartly and bravely to repel the strike.

1905: Malabo. Raul-Ivan Fabiani is on for Eq Guinea, and Thierry Fidjeu is off. Is this a rest for Fidjeu, or simply a reflection on his anonymous first-half display? But, more intriguingly, why was that change made a minute after the re-start, as Eq Guinea began the half with ten men, and not before the second period kicked off?

1905: Bata. Senegal kick off the second half in Bata as they look to end their desperately disappointing Nations Cup campaign with a win.

1904: Malabo. Back underway as Eq Guinea kick off the half, with the game still goalless. Nick Cavell again: “Despite the poor football on the pitch, we still have a great atmosphere in the stadium and the announcer is doing his bit too by getting the crowd to sing along with his Ole’s as Zambia appear on the pitch.”

1904: Bata. Teams also out in Bata and Papiss Demba Cisse is on for Senegal and replacing club colleague Demba Ba.

1903: Malabo. The teams are back out for whatr Nick Cavell has called a fairly lacklustre half. It needs to get better, but neither Eq Guinea nor Zambia will think that – as they are both going through.

1856: Another devoted Chipolopolo fan is following the action in a far-away land. This time, it’s Shaun in Bangladesh. “Zambia are arguably the best team in southern africa and they are the region’s only ambassadors most likely to qualify to the next level after Botswana’s humiliating 6-1 drubbing by guinea. The driving force behind the Zambians is that they playing for our fallen heroes in the gabon disaster.” They certainly are, Shaun, as members of the squad have freely admitted in the last month or so.

1854: Half-time snaphot from the BBC’s Matthew Kenyon in Bata. “1-1 is about right at half-time. A good goal from Libya to open it, but maybe they started to believe too much, because they were slack for the equaliser. Both teams have had chances to take the lead but it’s been a bit scrappy for the last half hour. But the chance is still there for Libya – if they can go on and win, and Zambia go down in Malabo – not impossible and we could still see Fair Play deciding qualification.” Ah, a can of worms opened there, Matthew. Because there is the possibility that Fair Play will be used to determine who qualifies should Zambia (provided they lose tonight) and Libya (provided they win) both end up on four points tonight and with the same number of goals scored in the group. It will go down to yellow cards and at present, I make it that Libya have three at the tournament and Zambia just the two.

1852: I can’t remember receiving too many texts from Afghanistan re. African football over the years. But Sheriff has texted in to say “Following the Zambia game from Kabul – support to the Chipolopolo boys – from Sheriff”.

1851: Half-time snapshot from Nick Cavell inside the Nuevo Estadio de Malabo. “Neither side really seem to be pushing for the win – with both sides happy to attack sporadically. Zambia, especially, sat back and absorbed Equatorial Guinea’s attacks. Neither team really created any clearcut openings in the first 35 minutes – but there was one apiece after that, with the goalkeepers both doing well to rush out and save. The prospect of avoiding Ivory Coast in the quarter-finals doesn’t seem enough of a temptation for either team to go for the win at the moment.”

1848: The half-time whistle blows – more or less at exactly the same time – in both Bata and Malabo. 1-1 between Libya and Senegal in the former, and goalless in Malabo between the co-hosts and Zambia.

1847: Malabo. The crowd roar their approval as Eq Guinea advance but the final ball in lacks direction after a promising build-up. These fans are desperate for a home goal.

1845: Bata. Both teams are cancelling each other out somewhat, but doing their best to create openings. Ahmed Zuway is looking busy for Libya up front, but has been marshalled well by the Senegalese centre-halves, although he makes a claim to the referee that he’s been impeded in the box more than once. One minute of additional time.

1845: Malabo. Three minutes of added time at the end of the first half.

1843: Nearing the break in both games and the honours are even in both Malabo and Bata. Eq Guinea, who have already qualified, are being joined by Zambia both in the last eight at present.

1841: Malabo. Eq Guinea have their best chance of the match as Ivan Bolado takes a pass from Juvenal beautifully, opening up his body to fashion a chance but Mweene charges out from the Zambian goal to smother the strike. By far and away the co-hosts’ best chance of the match.

1841: Bata. Senegal’s Kader Mangane receives a yellow card after brining down Ahmed Zuway near the edge of the box.

1839: Malabo. Lungu is in action in the final third for Zambia again but drills a 25-yard strike well wide of Danilo’s goal with his left peg. Vazquez is back on, sporting a conspicuous white plaster underneath his left eye.

1837: Bata. Some end-to-end action in Bata as Libya’s Mohamed Jamal find himself in a promising position outside the box, before slicing a shot well wide. Senegal’s Camara then creates space well for himself at the other end of the pitch, and gets a good shot away, which zips across Aboud’s goal. Senegalese Kader Mangane then finds himself in the six-yard box after a clever ball back in from Niang, but he can only head straight at Aboud, who almost spills the tame effort.

1835: Malabo. First real opening for Zambia as Danilo is forced to block a powerful low strike from Zambian captain Chris Katongo from an angle, after being played in by Rainford Kalaba. There’s a break in play as Eq Guinea’s Danioel Vazquez receives action. He got an arm in the face, albeit unintentional, as Katongo had his strike.

1833: Malabo. Good driving run from Chisamba Lungu to get to the byline but his cut-back is cleared. Great power from the Zambian who strode forward purposefully, even if his final ball lacked precision.

1832: Malabo. There’s nothing in it in the Equatoguinean capital but the co-hosts have been advancing deeper into the Zambian half as the first period progresses. Despite some promising openings, Mweene has yet to be called into serious action.

1830: Bata. Daf is living extremely dangerously with the referee having to remind him that he is on a card, after the Senegalese full back makes another reckless challenge. Libya meanwhile look like they’re in too much of a hurry to get back in front, with a couple of over-cooked long balls running out of play.

1828: Bata. The eliminated Teranga Lions are certainly not just going through the motions here, as they seek to salvage something from an otherwise disastrous tournament. They are enjoying more of the possession at the moment as Libya struggle to get back on the ball. The North Africans need to win here, remember, to stand any chance of going through.

1826: Mohammed from Zambia has also been in touch. “People in the capital Lusaka are going absolutely crazy. Come on chipolopolo boys! Let’s win it for the Gabon air disaster heroes.” In case you don’t know, and I’m sure most you do, Zambia lost nearly all their football squad in 1993 when flying to a World Cup qualifier as their plane came down off the coast of Gabon. This tournament is in Gabon (and Eq Guinea of course), hence the significance for many involved with the Zambian game…

1824: Malabo. Equatorial Guinea are looking most threatening from set-pieces at the moment. This time, another dangerous ball in from Juvenal goes all the way through the six-yard box from a corner. Could the co-hosts’ frontmen have attacked that slightly better?

1822: Bata. Senegal force a series of corners, looking to edge ahead through another set-piece, but they can’t make the pressure pay before Libya clear. Senegal skipper Mamadou Niang is also complaining that he had his shirt pulled in the box as one of those corners came in.

1822: Better late than never, but we have finally got our text system working again, so please do send in your comments to +44 77 86 20 20 08. Oswald in Zimbabwe says: “Zambia have to win, Piers, that’s my wish. Both teams have to demonstrate skill and great sportsmanship. We are going to witness a thriller tonight”. Hope you’re right, Oswald, hope you’re right.

1819: Bata. The BBC’s Matthew Kenyon inside the Estadio de Bata: “A small band of Senegal fans on the far side are making some noise, but the rest of the stadium is basically empty.”

1818: Malabo. The BBC’s Nick Cavell inside the Nuevo Estadio de Malabo: “Stadium is now full in Malabo – and there’s a great atmosphere as the locals cheer every attack, every defensive tackle and every save from their Brazil-born keeper Danilo.” Still goalless.

1818: Bata. El Mughrabi, who was lucky to come out of that tangle with Daf with his left leg in-tact, is playing some clever balls around for Libya, who look sharp this evening. Senegal are again struggling to get into their stride although Pape Diakhate and Souleymane Camara have lashed a couple of decent-looking chances way over the Libyan bar.

1816: So as things stand, Eq Guinea will be topping the group, Zambia will be going through in second while Libya and Senegal will be out – even if the latter will have picked up their first point of this campaign.

1813: Bata. Senegal’s Omar Daf goes into the referee’s notebook for a scything tackle on El Mughrabi. Daf caught the latter’s standing leg with his studs so can count himself fortunate to stay on the pitch, says my colleague Stephen Fottrell.

1812: Senegal instantly reply as Deme Ndiaye as he flicks home captain Mamadou Niang’s corner, getting up highest at the near post to head home off the inside of the post. Good reaction from the Teranga Lions and what a start in Bata. But all far too easy from the point of view of Libya coach Marcos Paqueta no doubt, who must be infuriated by the simplicity of the goal.

1811: GOAL! Libya 1-1 Senegal

1810: Malabo. The Zambian hero of previous matches, Emmanuel Mayuka, has his first sigh on goal but can’t keep a flicked header down and it sails over from just 7 yards out.

1809: Malabo. Eq Guinea captain Juvenal calls Kennedy Mweene into action for the first time, but it’s very comfortable for the Zambian goalkeeper who comfortably catches a curling but very tame 30-yard strike.

1807: So as things stand, Libya are still not going into the quarter-finals. Because while they need to win, they also need Zambia to lose, and in the early stages in Malabo, it’s currently goalless between co-hosts Eq Guinea and Zambia. Less than ten minutes played though of course. Senegal, meanwhile, are heading for humiliation.

1805: I said the drama was going to depend on Libya winning their match and they’ve certainly given neutrals the start they were hoping for. Terrific jinking run through from Ahmed Sa’ad plays in Ihab Albusaifi, who prods home with the outside of his right boot and underneath new Senegal goalkeeper Khadim Ndiaye.

1804: GOAL! Libya 1-0 Senegal

1803: Malabo. Zambia captain Chris Katongo has the first chance of the game as he lets fly from a central position some 25-30 yards from goal. Slashes across it though, and the ball flies a few yards wide of Danilo’s left-hand upright.

1802: Malabo. The BBC’s Nick Cavell – “Still a few empty seats here in Malabo as the game kicks off. Police letting people in slowly and there are also a fair number outside just for the atmosphere according to my BBC colleague Alex Capstick.”

1801: Bata. Libya – all in white – have kicked off their Group A encounter against Senegal, clad in white. We are off and running.

1800: Malabo. Zambia – all in green – kick off their Group A tie against Equatorial Guinea, who are head-to-toe in red. They haven’t kicked off in Bata yet.

1759: Malabo. Just the one change in the Equatoguinean capital for the Zambians. Davies Nkausu is in for Francis Kasonde.

1755: Malabo. Noisy probably does not do it justice as the home fans in Malabo have the first chance to watch their national team live in the flesh at these finals. Their two previous games were in Bata, so this is a welcome treat for those in Malabo.

1752: Malabo. The teams are out. The Zambian national anthem is playing. Now, while there may be intrigue as to whether Libya can earn an unlikely qualification, there’s also the small matter of trying to avoid Ivory Coast in the quarter-finals to contend with. So Zambia have every incentive to win this game so that they can leapfrog the co-hosts at the top of Group A and so avoid a likely last eight meeting with Group B leaders Ivory Coast (should they avoid defeat to Angola tomorrow, that is).

1748: Malabo line-ups. Equatorial Guinea: 1-Danilo, 23-Jose Bakong Alogo, 4-Rui Fernando Gomez, 5-Fousseny Kamissoko, 2-Daniel Vazquez, 20-Daniel-Bledimiar Ekedo, 6-Juvenal Edjogo, 14-Ben Konate, 10-Ivan Bolado, 11-Javier Balboa, 12-Thierry Fidjeu.

Zambia: 16-Kennedy Mweene, 3-Chisamba Lungu, 4-Joseph Musonda, 5-Hichani Himoonde, 6-Davies Nkausu, 8-Isaac Chansa, 11-Chris Katongo (c), 13-Stoppila Sunzu, 27-Rainford Kalaba, 19-Nathan Sinkala, 20-Emmanuel Makaya.

1745: Bata line-ups. Libya: 01-Samir Aboud (c), 11-Mohamed El Mughrabi, 03-Abdulaziz Belrrish, 05-Younes Shibani, 04-Ali Salama, 02-Rabea Aboubaker, 23-Jamal Mohamed, 06-Mohamed Esnani, 10-Ahmed Sa’ad Osman, 19-Ahmed Zuway, 20-Ihab Albusaifi.

Senegal: 16-Khadim N’Diaye, 5-Souleymane Diawara, 17-Omar Daf, 06-Abdou Kader Mangane, 04-Pape Diakhate, 22-Bouya M’Bengue, 14-Deme N’Diaye, 21-Mohamed Diame, 08-Mamadou Niang, 09-Souleymane Camara, 19-Demba Ba.

1742: Team news from Bata. Matthew Kenyon again. “Two changes for Libya: Rabea Aboubaker replaced by Abdulazziz Berrish and Ihab Albusaifi comes in for the injured Walid El Khatroushi. Meanwhile, Mohamed El Mograbhi starts despite receiving a nasty blow to the face in the Zambia game.”

“For Senegal, coach Amara Traore has made SIX changes. Keeper Bouna Coundoul is dropped and replaced by Khadim Ndiaye. Also out: Lamine Sane – injured, Issiar Dia, Dame Ndoye, Papiss Demba Cisse and Guirane Ndaw. Coming in: aside from Ndiaye, Pape Diakhite, Mamadou Niang (the captain having been restored to the starting line-up), Souleymane Camara, Deme Ndiaye and Omar Daf”. So that’s great news for both Camara and Daf, who both contested the 2002 Nations Cup final and that year’s World Cup too.

Full line-ups to follow.

1740: The BBC’s Nick Cavell is watching today’s game in Malabo and says “Stadium is slowly filling up here and the stadium announcer is trying to get the crowd singing along with him. Equatorial Guinea and Zambia both on the pitch warming-up – not that they need much – it is again very hot and humid in Malabo.”

1737: Matthew Kenyon is inside the Bata stadium for the BBC today, where he reports “Shaping for rain here – let’s hope it’s not as heavy as Wednesday!” Yes indeed. Because on Wednesday, matches had to be delayed because of the terrific downpour in Bata, leaving Libya and Zambia to play out a 2-2 draw on a pitch which should have not been staging any matches. Later that evening, Eq Guinea were also in action – so we’ll soon find out how badly the surface was damaged by those games.

1734: In case you’re wondering, this live page will be bringing you updates from both games in Group A today. They both start in just under half an hour and while I will be keeping an eye across the Malabo game, between Equatorial Guinea and Zambia, my colleague Stephen Fottrell will be following the BATA fixture, where Libya face Senegal. But all the action will be here, so please do click on refresh and we will bring you all the drama as it unfolds. We could be set for a relatively calm evening but if we have what this Africa Cup of Nations has already thrown up, I don’t fancy our chances! Anyway, it all really depends on whether Libya can beat a potentially-demoralised Senegal if we are to have a nail-biting two hours.

1730 GMT: So this is it. The final chance for either Zambia or Libya to make it through from Group A. At present, co-hosts Equatorial Guinea are already through. They have six points, the Zambians have four, the Libyans one while Senegal are pointless and out of the competition. The easiest way of putting things is that if Zambia get at least a point from their Malabo encounter with Equatorial Guinea, then the Chipolopolo join the co-hosts in the quarter-finals. The only way that Zambia cannot qualify if if they lose, and Libya beat Senegal in Bata. BUT there would however need to be a swing in the number of goals scored to take the Libyans through.

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BLOOD PRESSURE ‘SHOULD BE MEASURED IN BOTH ARMS’

News Ghana
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Blood pressure ‘should be measured in both arms’

Measuring blood pressure in both arms should be routine because the difference between left and right arm could indicate underlying health problems, says a study review.

The Lancet research found that a large difference could mean an increased risk of vascular disease and death.

Although existing guidelines state that blood pressure should be measured in both arms, it is not often done.

But a heart charity said it was too early to judge the findings.

The arm with the higher pressure can vary between individuals, but it is the difference between arms that counts, the study suggests.

Dr Christopher Clark and colleagues, from the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Exeter, reviewed 28 previous study papers looking at this area.

Most people in the study had an elevated blood pressure risk and about one-third had a normal level of risk.

The study concluded that a difference in systolic blood pressure of 10 millimetres of mercury (mm Hg) between arms could identify patients at high risk of asymptomatic peripheral vascular disease.
Continue reading the main story
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It’s too early to say whether this idea could become part of standard healthcare practice.”
Natasha Stewart
British Heart Foundation

A difference of 15mg Hg would also indicate an increased risk of cerebrovascular disease, a 70% increased risk of cardiovascular mortality and 60% increased risk of death from all causes, the authors said.

Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is the narrowing and hardening of the arteries that supply blood to the legs and feet. There are often no symptoms.

The UK vascular check programme for over-40s which includes a test for hypertension, advises that blood pressure measurements be taken in both arms.

“But surveys have shown that the average GP doesn’t do it,” said Dr Clark.
‘Routine care’

Early detection of PVD is important because these patients could then benefit from stopping smoking, lowering their blood pressure or being offered statin therapy.

Dr Clark said the findings supported the need for blood pressure checks in both arms to be the norm.

Writing in The Lancet, Prof Richard J McManus, department of primary care health sciences at the University of Oxford and Prof Jonathan Mant, from the department of public health and primary care at the University of Cambridge, said the review supports existing guidelines.

“Further research is needed to clarify whether substantial differences between arms should prompt aggressive management of cardiovascular risk factors.

“Ascertainment of differences should become part of routine care, as opposed to a guideline recommendation that is mostly ignored.”

Natasha Stewart, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said measuring blood pressure on both arms to assess vascular disease is, theoretically, a quick and simple task.

“But it’s too early to say whether this idea could become part of standard healthcare practice and so we need more research to confirm the findings.”

Prof Bryan Williams, from the Blood Pressure Association and the University of Leicester, said the study reinforced the message already in the guidelines from health watchdog NICE.

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FAKE DRUGS GIVEN TO NHS PATIENTS STILL UNTRACED

News Ghana
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Fake drugs given to NHS patients still untraced
By Phil Kemp
Reporter, 5 live Investigates

72,000 packs of counterfeit drugs entered the UK supply chain in 2007 – 25,000 remain untraced

Only eight people out of several thousand who received counterfeit drugs from the NHS in an incident in 2007 have been identified.

Of those eight, only three have been informed about the incident, a BBC investigation has learned.

72,000 packs of counterfeit drugs entered the UK supply chain in 2007 but 25,000 remain untraced.

The regulator, the MHRA, has said it took swift action in 2007 and issued its “most serious recall notice”.

A new EU directive will further improve patient safety, it added.

In the spring of 2007, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) issued an emergency recall of drugs which had been identified as counterfeit.

Those recalled included batches of the prostate cancer drug Casodex; of a drug used to treat heart complaints called Plavix; and of Zyprexa, which is used to control the symptoms of schizophrenia.

The MHRA successfully seized 40,000 packs before they were distributed to pharmacies but 25,000 reached chemists across the UK and were dispensed to patients – a further 7,000 were recovered following a recall.
Weakness in supply chain

A Freedom of Information request submitted by the BBC’s 5 live Investigates programme asked the MHRA how many of the thousands of patients who had received the counterfeit drugs had been identified and informed.

The regulator told the BBC it had identified just eight patients who had received drugs described as either Zyprexa or Plavix – all but one were residents of care homes.

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One patient identified returned their counterfeit batch to a pharmacy in Croydon.

Of the seven remaining patients, only two are known to have been informed of the incident.

Following a £750,000 investigation by the MHRA, Hertfordshire-based businessman Peter Gillespie was jailed for eight years in 2011 for conspiring to defraud pharmaceutical wholesalers, pharmacists and members of the public.

Currently, there is no obligation from wholesalers down to individual pharmacies to record the batch numbers of the drugs they receive and chemists do not record which are dispensed to patients.

We issued our most serious recall notice – a Class One Drug Alert – for immediate action which goes to healthcare professionals as well as over 21,000 subscribers”
MHRA

An MHRA spokesperson said it was currently considering options for strengthening the supply chain in the UK and that a new EU directive – the Falsified Medicines Directive – which will come into force in January 2013 will also increase controls.

Charles Willis from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, the professional body for pharmacists, fears the new EU rules will still not sufficiently protect patients in the future.

“Although the Falsified Medicines Directive would crack down on fake drugs getting to patients, we need to be working at extending the recall process so that each pack can be traced to individual patients,” Mr Willis told the BBC.

“We realise the practicalities behind this are a challenge, with every patient needing to be identified, but as it stands the new directive would still not allow patients to be matched to individual packs of drugs when problems arise.”

The MHRA says it took swift action back in 2007 to ensure medical professionals and the public were made aware of the counterfeit drugs.

“We issued our most serious recall notice – a Class One Drug Alert – for immediate action which goes to healthcare professionals as well as over 21,000 subscribers.

“We supported this with a press release to reinforce awareness amongst the public.”

The MHRA said that it was rare for fake medicines to get into the healthcare supply chain and the case should be seen in the context of more than 900 million prescriptions dispensed every year.

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ELDERLY ‘SUFFER AS SOCIAL CARE SPENDING CUT’

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Elderly ‘suffer as social care spending cut’
By Nick Triggle
Health correspondent, BBC News

Ministers are looking to publish plans for social care reform in the spring

Spending on social care for the elderly in England is falling this year – despite the assurances of ministers, an analysis by campaigners suggests.

The Age UK report said £7.3bn was being budgeted this year – the same as in 2011 – but it represented a drop of 4.5% once inflation was taken into account.

The charity said the squeeze meant thousands were missing out on care.

But ministers said there should be enough money available to avoid cuts.

The report, based on official data plus Age UK’s own research, comes amid mounting concern about the state of social care, which includes help in the home with activities such as washing and dressing as well as residential care places.

Ministers have promised to publish plans in the spring to reform the system to ensure it is sustainable in the long term.

But following the Spending Review in 2010, they said extra funds would be made available for social care – including money from the NHS budget – to help councils out.

This is because of the wider cuts to local government funding – over the next four years its budget from central government will be reduced by a quarter, leading to cuts in everything from leisure centres to libraries, which are being seen across the country.
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Case study

David Gower has been hit with a “double whammy” by the squeeze in social care.

The 76-year-old has severe mobility problems because of a debilitating neurological condition.

He relies on carers to help him with everything from getting out of bed and dressed to washing and eating.

They come in four times a day, but the amount of time they spend with him has been reduced, leaving them hard-pressed to meet all his needs.

The fees he is paying have also risen, from £260 a month to £324.

“I’m worried that the local authority is pushing the Big Society, where the emphasis is to push more and more on to friends and family.

“This is not an option for me. My relatives don’t live nearby. What I want is a proper carers service.”

The Age UK report argues that despite the extra money social care has not been able to escape unscathed from the cuts programme.

The analysis shows that councils are reducing spending by 4.5% – £341m in monetary terms.

But the report said that if rising demand from the ageing population were taken into account, the drop would be closer to £500m.

And the charity predicted the situation would get even worse in the coming years.
‘Struggling’

The report said the squeeze on spending had led councils to restrict access to services as well as increasing the fees they charged – only the poorest got their care completely free.

Age UK believes there are 2m people in England with care needs, 800,000 of whom are not getting any formal support.

Michelle Mitchell, charity director of Age UK, said: “Behind these figures are real older people struggling to cope without the support they need, compromising their dignity and safety on a daily basis.

“Social care is not a nice-to-have extra – it is the support that helps older people get out of bed, feed themselves, have a wash and live a life that is more than just an existence.”

Care services minister Paul Burstow said: “We believe councils have enough to maintain the current levels of access and eligibility but they will need to work hard and smart, and invest in things like telecare and re-ablement [helping people regain skills] to free up more money for front-line services.”

But he said he recognised the system needed improving for the future and that was why a White Paper would be published in the spring.

David Rogers, of the Local Government Association, said councils were doing the best they could.

“These figures highlight what we already know – there isn’t enough money in the system and without fundamental reform the situation is only going to get worse.”

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