Welcome to Linda Ikeji's Blog |
- Merry Christmas everyone and happy holidays!
- Kid star Ozzybosco sends shout-out to his fans & shares photos from Britain's got talent
- Americans held hostage in Iran win compensation, 36 years later
- Boxing Day White Party!
- Chicago 'Black Christmas' protesters march against police violence
- Photos: Aisha Buhari donates relief materials to IDPs in Borno State, inaugurates a committee
- All dressed up with nowhere to go?
- Meet the man who married Putin's daughter and then made a fortune
| Merry Christmas everyone and happy holidays! Posted: 24 Dec 2015 03:29 PM PST  | ||||
| Kid star Ozzybosco sends shout-out to his fans & shares photos from Britain's got talent Posted: 24 Dec 2015 02:16 PM PST        Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E72JBxo21QU | ||||
| Americans held hostage in Iran win compensation, 36 years later Posted: 24 Dec 2015 01:52 PM PST  Buried in the huge spending bill signed into law last Friday are provisions that would give each of the 53 hostages or their estates up to $4.4 million. Victims of other state-sponsored terrorist attacks such as the 1998 American Embassy bombings in East Africa would also be eligible for benefits under the law."I had to pull over to the side of the road, and I basically cried," said Rodney V. Sickmann, who was a Marine sergeant working as a security guard at the embassy in Tehran when he was seized along with the other Americans by an angry mob that overran the compound on Nov. 4, 1979. "It has been 36 years, one month, 14 days, obviously, until President Obama signed the actual bill, until Iran was held accountable," he said.
Some of the hostages were subject to physical and psychological torture during their long ordeal. It is not clear, however, whether all the former hostages or their families will receive full payments. In large measure that is because the $4.4 million total authorized by Congress depends on the outcome of efforts to collect on judgments won in earlier court rulings involving victims of terrorist attacks, as well as on the number of victims who file claims. The law authorizes payments of up to $10,000 per day of captivity for each of the 53 hostages, 37 of whom are still alive. Fifty-two hostages were released on Jan. 20, 1981; a 53rd hostage had been released earlier because of illness. Spouses and children are authorized to receive a lump payment of as much as $600,000. | ||||
| Posted: 24 Dec 2015 03:39 PM PST  With an all-star DJ line-up, exclusive white carpet, firework show, laid back ambience with all white cabanas, good people, great music and of course refreshed by your coolest brand Pepsi, Boxing Day White Party is officially the biggest white party Lagos has ever seen. Dress code is ALL WHITE and access to this prestigious event is strictly by invitation. For Cabana bookings and tables reservations please call 09083600030 or 07015330313. Follow on Instagram @boxingdaywhiteparty for more information. For a chance to win free invites, follow @Pepsi_naija on Twitter and Instagram | ||||
| Chicago 'Black Christmas' protesters march against police violence Posted: 24 Dec 2015 01:36 PM PST  The demonstration was peaceful, but after the main march concluded, police scuffled with a few dozen protesters who were trying to block the entrance to an H&M store and to obstruct traffic both ways on Michigan Avenue, a major thoroughfare. During the march, demonstrators chanted "Sixteen shots and a cover-up," protesting the year-long delay in bringing murder charges against police officer Jason Van Dyke, who shot and killed Laquan McDonald in October 2014 as the black teenager walked away from police, according to footage of the incident. Shoppers and tourists mostly took in their stride Thursday's protest, which was not as big as a 2,000-person march on "Black Friday" Nov. 27, which blocked traffic into several Michigan Avenue stores. "I think it's a good reminder, especially on Christmas Eve, that it's not all about gifts and the commercialization of Christmas," said Barbara Hutchinson, 64, from St. Louis. Reuters | ||||
| Photos: Aisha Buhari donates relief materials to IDPs in Borno State, inaugurates a committee Posted: 24 Dec 2015 01:28 PM PST   While making the donation, Mrs Buhari urged philanthropists to assist displaced persons to enable them return to their original homes. She also inaugurated a committee responsible for the distribution of relief items. The committee is headed by the wife of Borno State governor, Hajiya Nana Kashim Shettima  Noting that Nigeria is winning the war against terrorism, she called for prayers from all imams and pastors. She said the federal government would certainly help in rebuilding all the destroyed towns and villages in the state. | ||||
| All dressed up with nowhere to go? Posted: 24 Dec 2015 03:00 PM PST  Then bring your friends to the PTS Concert to experience powerful ministrations featuring the talents of Cobhams, Femi Jacobs, Saco, Okiki Jesu, Judah Theatre and many more. Here's your personal invitation to come on the 27th of December at the New Multipurpose Hall, Federal College of Education, St Finbarrs College Road, Akoka. Time is 3PM and Admission is free! The PTS Concert 2015 Date: 27th December 2015 Venue: The New Multipurpose Hall, Federal College of Education, St Finbarrs College Road, Akoka Time: 3PM Admission is FREE" | ||||
| Meet the man who married Putin's daughter and then made a fortune Posted: 24 Dec 2015 03:01 PM PST  Set amid woodland with a picturesque lake, the resort is co-owned by the family of Yuri Kovalchuk, another old friend of Putin, and a Cyprus company with undisclosed shareholders. One person who attended the event said staff were told the bride and groom were named Kirill and Katerina, and that guests wore white scarves embroidered with the letters "K&K" in red thread. When shown a photograph of a woman known as Katerina Tikhonova, the source identified her as the bride. Tikhonova is Putin's younger daughter, as Reuters confirmed in November. "Guards were behind every corner, (they) didn't let anyone close to the celebration," said a staff member at the resort, which has a luxurious spa complex. "But we knew it was Kirill and Katerina - Putin's daughter - celebrating marriage."  At the time of the wedding, Kirill - a tall, dark-haired man with rimless glasses - was a rising star of Russian business, but still only 31. His fortunes began to skyrocket soon after his wedding to the president's daughter, a competitive acrobatic dancer who is now helping to oversee a $1.7 billion expansion of Moscow State University. Within 18 months, Kirill acquired a large chunk of shares in a major Russian oil and petrochemical processor called Sibur - a stake now worth an estimated $2.85 billion, based on the value of recent share deals. He also quit his job as a business manager and set up a company to run his personal investments. How did such a young businessman go so far, so fast? A Reuters examination of Shamalov's career shows that in the summer of 2013, months after he married Putin's daughter, Kirill opened discussions about buying shares in Sibur from one of the president's wealthiest friends. A year later, he was able to borrow more than $1 billion, judging by the published accounts of his investment company. The loan came from a bank headed by another longtime associate of Putin, and where Shamalov's brother holds a senior position. The money was used to make an investment in Sibur that within months proved highly profitable for Kirill. Asked about his business deals and the wedding, Kirill Shamalov and Sibur declined to comment. The trajectory of Kirill's fortunes sheds new light on how people close to Putin have taken commanding positions in key companies - and how such opportunities are now being extended to a new generation. Like the wedding, much of this transfer of riches has occurred away from public scrutiny. Vladimir Milov, a former Russian deputy energy minister and now an opposition campaigner, said Putin's friends had acquired major assets with the help of lenders with links to the state, such as Gazprombank. "It's extremely non-transparent, so it is hard to get to and judge the specifics of the loan agreements," Milov said. "They consider Gazprombank their pocket bank." He added: "They are looking to pass on their power and privileges to a new generation." Asked about the wedding celebrations and business deals, Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for the Russian president, said: "Putin's daughters are not involved in politics or business. The businessman, Shamalov, is well known. As far as we are aware, all his activities are in line with the laws of the Russian Federation. For many years he has been in the management of the company Sibur, and along with other senior managers is a shareholder. His career and business are not within the sphere of interest of the Kremlin. We do not give comments on the private lives of Putin's close relatives." |
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