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Tag: CNN

  • McCain says he’s facing ‘very vicious form of cancer’

    McCain says he’s facing ‘very vicious form of cancer’

    U.S. Sen. John McCain, who recently returned to Washington after treatment for brain cancer, said on Sunday the disease was vicious but that the treatment was going well and he has more energy than before.

    “This is a very vicious form of cancer that I‘m facing,” McCain, a Republican, who ran unsuccessfully for president in 2008, told CNN’s “State of the Union” programme.

    The 80-year-old Arizona senator was found to have an aggressive form of brain tumour, glioblastoma, after surgery in July for a blood clot above his left eye.

    “All the results so far are excellent,” McCain said of his treatment, adding that the prognosis was “pretty good.”

    “I‘m facing a challenge, but I’ve faced other challenges, and I’m very confident about getting through this one as well,” the senator said.

    “I’ve had no side effects, no nothing except frankly an increased level of energy.”

    McCain recently completed his first round of chemotherapy and radiation, and he said that he would have an MRI on Monday, an imaging technique used to evaluate medical conditions.

    McCain, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, is also going to oversee work on a defence policy bill on the Senate floor next week.

    “Every life has to end one way or another,” he told CNN, adding that he was very happy with his life, including the 2008 campaign that he lost to former President Barack Obama.

    “I am able to celebrate a wonderful life and I will be grateful for additional time that I have,” McCain said.

    “Remember, I am the guy, who stood fifth from the bottom of his class at the Naval Academy.”

    McCain was re-elected to a sixth Senate term in November. In the past, he has been treated for melanoma, a form of skin cancer.

    He is the son and grandson of Navy admirals, and a U.S. Navy pilot whose plane was shot down over Vietnam in 1967.

    He spent more than five years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam and was tortured repeatedly.

    McCain said on Sunday he hoped that people would remember him as someone, who had served his country.

    “Made a lot of mistakes, made a lot of errors, but served his country, and I hope we could add, honourably.”

  • 15 parties back restructuring

    At least 15 political parties on the platform of the Coalition for New Nigeria (CNN) have expressed support for the restructuring of the country.

    CNN’s National Chairman, Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, who disclosed this on Monday in Abuja, said the coalition was determined to chart a new course for the country.

    According to him, CNN is committed to the unity, indivisibility and progress of Nigeria.

    He said the vision of the coalition was a new Nigeria that would be secure and prosperous through effective governance.

    Abdulsalam said: “Our goal will be to create jobs for all those who want to work and economic opportunity for all to achieve.

    “Our immediate task will be to strive to heal the wounds of the past through reclamation, reconciliation and reformation.

    “We are committed to the economic, political and internal restructuring of Nigeria as well as empowering of our youths, women and persons with disability through well-articulated policies toward a better Nigeria.”

    He said CNN would engage in a holistic fight against corruption with the sole aim of abolishing hunger and poverty.

    The CNN national chairman said the coalition looks forward to a government that would undertake economic renovation and reforms capable of transforming the country into a leading industrial giant.

    The 15 political parties in the coalition are – Labour Party (LP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), National Action Council (NAC), Democratic People’s Congress (DPC), Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA), People for Democratic Change (PDC) and Democratic Alternative (DA).

    Others are – Better Nigeria Progressive Party (BNPP), Action Alliance (AA), United Democratic Party (UDP), Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN), Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD), Young Democratic Party (YDP) and Mega Progressive Peoples Party (MPPP).

    NAN

  • Nigeria partners CNN, UNTWO on creative industry

    Nigeria partners CNN, UNTWO on creative industry

    The Federal governemnt has  announced a tripartite partnership with the CNN and the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) to boost creative industry in Nigeria, using film as a pivot. The Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed made the announcement in Lagos on Monday at the Creative Industry RoundTable. He said under the partnership, the film industry will be used as ‘a lens through which we will project various aspects of Nigerian culture, tourism and similar areas.’

    “We are kick-starting the project with a 13-episode production showcasing the various stages in a movie production,” he added.

    The minister, who spoke at a creative industry round-table in Lagos, said the essence of the gathering was to fast-track the transformation of the creative industry to a creative economy.

    According to him, that is the objective against the background of the administration’s intention of supporting and facilitating an enabling environment for the true business growth of the creative sector.

    He reiterated that the administration has no doubt that the plan to transform the creative industry to a creative economy must be driven by the private sector.

    “After all, it is self-evident that the modest growth that has been achieved in the creative industry so far, whether in films, music or fashion, has been achieved in spite of the government. It therefore stands to reason that with the government providing the necessary enabling environment and the private sector in the driver’s seat, the transformation can be realised within a short time,” he said.

    According to Mohammed, the roundtable will provide the stakeholders the opportunity to engage in business-focused discussions, to initiate and enable private sector-led growth and development of the creative industry.

    He stressed that participants would dialogue and engage key industry personnel on the business of the creative sector, while addressing key issues affecting the sector, such as intellectual property rights, piracy, education, poverty, power supply, security, access to finance, distribution infrastructure, technical competence, film content, multiple taxation and multi-level regulation.

    “The Roundtable is also expected to highlight international best practices that would enhance the business of the sector, e.g. bench-marking standards, case studies/best practice, associations and guilds, exchanging the cutting-edge ideas in the sector and then, in line with what I said earlier, proffering solutions in all the areas of concern,” he added.

    The minister described the interactive session as the latest effort in the administration’s determination to move the creative industry from the fringes to the mainstream of the economy.

    He said the ministry was working with the Tony Elumelu Foundation, the Bank of Industry and the British Council, noting that there are MoUs with them to build capacity, create jobs and ensure financing for the industry, among others.

    Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC)Director-General  Mr. Folorunso Coker identified access to finance, public policy reform, huge infrastructural gap and public private partnership as part of the industry’s challenges and opportunities that must be examined.

    The session attracted chief executive officers of culture agencies, private sector operators, professionals, entrepreneurs, service providers, artistes among others. They included Director-General National Council for Arts and Culture Otunba Segun Runsewe, Managing Director FilmHouse Cinemas Kene Mkparu, Prof Bankole Sodipo of Babcock University, Chairman COSON Chief Tony Okoroji, Proprietor Terra Kulture Mrs Bolanle Austen-Peters, , Dele Osawe, Lagos Zonal Director Nigerian Copyright Commission Obi Ezeilo, Victor Okhai,  Peace Fiberesima, Chairman Social Media Weekly, Lagos Obi Asika and representative of Bank of Industry, Uche Nwuka.

     

  • FG partners WTO, CNN to boost creative industry

    FG partners WTO, CNN to boost creative industry

    The Federal Government has struck a global tripartite partnership with UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and the global news leader, CNN to boost the nation’s creative industry.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, disclosed this at the Creative Industry Roundtable held on Monday in Lagos.

    The minister, who declared the round table opened, said that the partnership would give the nation’s creative industry a big boost.

    He said under the partnership, his Ministry, UNWTO and CNN would use the film industry as a lens to project various aspects of the Nigerian culture, tourism and similar areas.

    He said they would kick start the project with a 13-episode production showcasing the various stages in movie production.

    “The productions include the choice of location, which will allow us to showcase the various beautiful sceneries available in Nigeria.

    “It will showcase the choice of wardrobe to show the rich options in the country’s fashion industry and the choice of sound track that will highlight our rich music genres

    “The casting will showcase our abundant talents and the technical part will provide the platform to show that there is no camera and other gadgets that we don’t have here,” he said.

    The minister said that, as part of the project, his ministry would run a programme on CNN showcasing the 20 Nigerians to watch in the creative industry.

    He said the Nigerians to be showcased would be selected by the industry players to ensure authenticity.

    Mohammed reiterated government’s position to transform the creative industry to “Nigeria’s new oil”.

    “This is an empirical statement, rather than a mere jive and the experience from other lands confirms this,” he said.

    As parts of the dogged determination to grow the industry, Mohammed also disclosed that his ministry would be organising a Creative Industry Financing Conference between July 17 and July 18 in Lagos.

    He said the conference organised in partnership with the Think Tank Media would be declared open by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo.

    The minister said that he called the Roundtable to fast-track the transformation of the Creative Industry.

    He reiterated the government readiness to support the industry and facilitate the enabling environment for the true business growth of the creative sector.

    “The Roundtable will provide the stakeholders the opportunity to engage in business-focused discussions.

    “The stakeholders are to initiate private sector-led growth and development of the creative Industry.

    “We will dialogue and engage key industry personnel on the business of the creative sector, while addressing key issues affecting the sector.

    “The Roundtable is also expected to highlight international best practices that would enhance the business of the sector,” he said.

    Earlier, Mr Folorunso Coker, the Director General of Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), identified access to fund as one of the major challenges of the industry.

    He said the stakeholder should push for acceptance of content as collateral for funding of creative works as it was being done in other climes.

    Coker also advocated public policy reform for harmonisation of multi level regulatory institutions in the creative industry.

    He decried huge infrastructure gap, which he said was holding the industry from developing.

    According to him, China built about 40,000 cinemas in the last six years, whilst Nigeria has about 130 screens.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the round table broke into technical session after the opening remarks.

    Some of the personalities at the event were Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, the Director General of the National Council for Arts and Culture.

    Also at the event were Nollywood Thespian, Saint Obi, Mo Abudu of Ebony Life, Bolanle Austen-Peters, Tajudeen Adepetu, Obi Asika and Ken Mkparu.

  • CNN, New York Times, NBC, others fake News – Trump

    CNN, New York Times, NBC, others fake News – Trump

    The President of the United States of America, Donald Trump on Tuesday took to the social media during a Twitter spat with CNN to lambast popular media houses in the country of publishing fake News.

    Trump attacked the CNN first for its recently retracted story about a congressional Russia investigation, which led to three editorial resignations.

    The President said: “Fake News CNN is looking at big management changes now that they got caught falsely pushing their phony Russian stories. Ratings way down!” Trump tweeted, following a series of retweets for “Fox & Friends” on the rival Fox News network.

     

    In its reply, the CNN Communications account tweeted to Trump “CNN just posted it’s most-watched second quarter in history. Those are the facts”.

    The latest squabble is centred on a CNN story from last week that said the Senate Intelligence Committee was investigating Trump campaign adviser Anthony Scaramucci for allegedly meeting with a Russian investor days before Trump’s inauguration.No fan of CNN.

    CNN published the story, which was attributed to one anonymous source, on Thursday and took it down a day later, saying it did not meet editorial standards. Reporter Thomas Frank, editor Eric Lichtblau and investigative head Lex Haris resigned.

    President Donald Trump also accused the BBC, New York Times, NBC, CBS and ABC of being fake news media houses.

    The latest dispute is centred on a CNN story from last week that said the Senate Intelligence Committee was investigating Trump campaign adviser Anthony Scaramucci for allegedly meeting with a Russian investor days before Trump’s inauguration.
  • CNN reporter labels White House spokesman ‘just kind of useless’

    CNN reporter labels White House spokesman ‘just kind of useless’

    A CNN reporter labelled White House spokesman Sean Spicer “just kind of useless”, in the the ongoing tussle between the Washington press corps and the Trump administration.

    The comment was made by CNN White House correspondent Jim Acosta during an appearance on “CNN Newsroom with Brooke Baldwin.”

    “The White House press secretary is getting to a point, Brooke, where he’s just kind of useless,” Acosta said.

    “You know, if he can’t come out and answer the questions and they’re just not going to do this on camera or audio, why are we even having these briefings or these gaggles in the first place?”

    Acosta’s comments came shortly after Spicer held an off-camera press briefing that journalists were reportedly not allowed to record.

    The 47-year-old, who has covered the last three elections for CNN, also criticized President Donald Trump for not holding a “full blown press conference” since February.

    “I don’t know why everybody is going along with this. It just doesn’t make any sense to me,” Acosta said.

    Citing an unnamed senior White House official, the Washington Post reported Monday that Spicer is expected to move to a more “behind-the-scenes role overseeing communications strategy.”

    The move is part of a “broader overhaul” of the communications team at the White House, the Post said.

    Spicer has been the subject of criticism by reporters in Washington for months, and has also attracted the attention of comedy show Saturday Night Live, where he is portrayed by actress Melissa McCarthy.

  • CNN fires comedian over Trumps ‘severed head’

    CNN fires comedian over Trumps ‘severed head’

    CNN has fired comedian Kathy Griffin from its annual New Year’s Eve broadcast.

    Griffin drew strong criticism for posing in photographs holding up the likeness of a severed head resembling U.S. President Donald Trump.

    Griffin, 56, a two-time Emmy-winning performer known for her deliberately provocative brand of humor, has appeared since 2007 as co-host of CNN’s New Year’s Eve broadcast from Times Square in New York with anchor Anderson Cooper.

    The network announced the termination on Wednesday after earlier criticising the photos as “disgusting and offensive.”

    Griffin posted a videotaped apology on Tuesday night amid a public outcry from Republicans and Democrats alike over the images, including condemnation from Trump.

    “Kathy Griffin should be ashamed of herself,” Trump wrote. “My children, especially my 11-year-old son, Barron, are having a hard time with this. Sick!”

    The U.S. Secret Service, responsible for presidential security, has opened an inquiry into the posting of Griffin posing with the severed-head replica, a spokesman in Los Angeles said.

    When asked whether the agency was looking into the incident as a potential threat on the president’s life.

    “We’re aware of it and we’re investigating it,” the spokesman, George Fernandez, told Reuters.

    He declined to elaborate.

    Meanwhile, Griffin, has apologised profusely in a video message posted to her official Twitter account late on Tuesday.

    She said that as a comic she routinely seeks to “cross the line” but realized in this case, “I went too far.”

  • Nigeria to Partner UNWTO, CNN to Promote Tourism

    Nigeria to Partner UNWTO, CNN to Promote Tourism

    The Federal Government has announced a tripartite partnership involving the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), and global news leader, CNN to promote tourism in Nigeria.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, announced the plan at the Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) in Lagos on Tuesday.

    He said the partnership would leverage on Nigeria’s film industry popularly known as Nollywood.

    Mohammed said that talks were at an advanced stage to forge a “very strong and effective partnership to use our comparative advantage in film production, through Nollywood, to promote tourism in Nigeria’.

    “This is a path we have not trodden before, but which we are sure will go a long way in making it possible for us to push tourism from the back-burner to the mainstream of the economy,” he said.

    Mohammed said that more details of the partnership would be provided in the days ahead.

    He appealed to tourism stakeholders to work with the Federal Government to ensure the success of the 2018 UNWTO CAF Meeting to be hosted in Abuja.

    Nigeria won the hosting right of the meeting at the last edition of the meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in April.

    ”As many of you are aware, Nigeria recently won the right to host the annual UNWTO CAF Meeting in Abuja in 2018.

    “Yes, this is not the first time Nigeria will be hosting this meeting, but this time we must leverage on the meeting as a platform to promote Nigeria as a preferred tourism destination,” he said.

    The minister urged the private sector to partner with the government to grow the tourism industry and provide the necessary skills, competencies and ingredients for growth and progress.

    “Stakeholders are also invited to package and promote Nigerian destinations, goods and services.

    “This will create direct and indirect employment through tourism, grow the economy, increase the national GDP, position Nigeria as an all-year-round tourism destination and establish a worthwhile, acceptable and recognisable image of the country among tourists.

    “Let us all tour Nigeria, let us all consume more of made in Nigeria, and let us all know more of our heritage. Let us all celebrate Nigeria,” he said.

    Mohammed said as part of efforts to improve Nigeria’s ranking on the Tourism Competitive Index of the World Travel and Tourism Council, the government had set up a Presidential Council on the Ease of Doing Business.

  • Osinbajo scores Nigerian ‘Jollof rice’ high

    Osinbajo scores Nigerian ‘Jollof rice’ high

    Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Nigeria’s Vice-President on Monday described Nigerian-cooked jollof rice as “the best in the world”.

    The New Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that recently, while responding to a question by Richard Quest, CNN International business editor, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, was quoted to have said that the Senegalese make the best jollof rice on the continent.

    Although Quest made attempt to defend the minister, saying the minister did not hear his answer correctly, the incident sparked off unpleasant reactions on social media among a cross-section of Nigerians.

    The Vice-President gave the score card while speaking at “The Platform Nigeria,” a Global Media live broadcast LIVE on Channels TV and online convened by Poju Oyemade, Senior Pastor of the Covenant Christian Centre, in Lagos.

    He said:“And by the way, we all know that Nigerian jollof rice is the best, we beat the Ghanaians and the Senegalese hands down.”

    “We have everything, and our people are doing incredibly innovative things.

    “Our music and entertainment industry is the fastest growing in the world,and of course, nobody is as funny as Nigerians, whether professional or amateur,” he noted.

    The VP also extolled Nigerians innovative feats in various fields,especially in recent times.

    “Last year Oluyinka Olutoye, a Nigerian surgeon successfully took out a baby from her mother’s womb, operated on the womb, and put the baby back in.

    “The baby was carried full term and was born naturally – a feat previously unheard of.

    “Only last year, a Nigerian girl Morolake Akinosun won a gold medal at the Olympics.

    “Last Saturday, a Nigerian boxer Anthony Oluwafemi Joshua won the WBA, becoming the boxing champion of the world.”

    Jollof rice is a staple meal among Africans, however over the years, Nigerians, Ghanaians, Senegalese and other African countries have claimed to make the best of the meal.

  • Expectations for the week

    Expectations for the week

    The Nigerian polity has continued to get heated up by displays from players in the political “industry”.  Various occurrences across the country have made tongues roll and the controversial large amount found in a private residence in Ikoyi is still making headlines across the country.

    Just last week, the presidency announced the immediate suspension of Secretary to the Federal Government, David Babachir Lawal and National Intelligence Agency boss, Amb. Ayo Oke. Their positions are still pending depending on the report of the investigative panel headed by Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.

    Lawal was suspended for his alleged involvement in a contract given to an organization where he was signatory to the account; the bad thing was that the contract was not properly executed. Many Nigerians have expressed happiness in this action from the President especially as it’s believed that Lawal is a top member of the “cabal”.

    Earlier, the Senate had fingered him to have been involved in the deal, but a letter from the government and his refusal to appear before the Senate when invited seemed to have ended the case.

    Tosin Adeshina, a political analyst said: “The suspension is a good development as the actions of the former SGF has cast a blithe on the Federal Government. Even though it’s coming late, I believe it’s not too late to right the wrongs of the past.

    “The former SGF abused his office by awarding contract to his personal company which is against the Code of Conduct for public officers and he had paid a high price for it.

    “The lesson for political office holders is that public office must not be used for personal enrichment but a privilege to serve.

    “The Government is an authority for the people not an authority over them. As a result, government officials must stay away from acts that will bring disrepute to their integrity.

    “I will also like to advise President Buhari to take actions when necessary as foot dragging on important decisions is a sign of weakness on the President in particular and the Presidency in general”.

    On the other hand, Oke got his suspension for the controversy that surrounded the organization he headed that involved the found 13 billion naira in a private residence believed to be owned by a member of his family for “covert” operations.

    Now, the questions on the lips of many are – can there be any COVERT operation not known to the Commander-in-Chief?  Did Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers state and Femi Fani Kayode LIE to the general  public by getting the name of Rotimi Ameachi involved in this controversy? Is Amb. Oke standing in to cover up for some powerful politicians as claimed? Well, in some days’ time, the investigative panel should certainly have answers to this question and many others currently popping up in the minds of millions of Nigerians.

    One of the worst things to have happened to the Nigerian Professional Football League this season was announced last week, it came like a blast. Our league was no longer going to be shown on television again. Supersport, the station that used to ensure that at least one league match was beamed live to the world every weekend made it public that the League Management Company led by Shehu Dikko had broken some part of the “deal” and so they were going to stop the weekly live broadcast. For about two weeks now, the league had stopped being on television but until the clarification, it was not too clear what the problem was.

    Earlier in the season, Sikiru Olatunbosun of Mfm Fc had scored a screamer that made him win the award for CNN goal of the week. Infact, many have started tipping the goal to win the FIFA Puskas award early next year. But with this development, it’s unfortunate that people will no longer have access to seeing games again except they visit stadiums.  Obviously, a whole lot of development still needs to be brought into the Nigerian league to make it profitable and marketable to the world.

    Segun Odunayo tweets from @Segun_Odunayo