Wednesday, September 14, 2011

FROM CAR WASH TO A MILLION DOLLAR CROONER, Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. wins America’s Got Talent 2011


Los Angeles, CA. -----It was all tears of joy for Landau Murphy Jr. , on Wednesday  when the host of America’s Got Talent Nick Canon announced  to  anxious audience  that he has won the million dollar prize for this year’s competition. T
Murphy Jr. from Logan, West Virginia who not long ago was washing cars is now a millionaire, courtesy America’s Got Talent .He also has a Las Vegas  headline contract .He thanked Americans for believing in him and giving him the opportunity to what he has worked so hard for since childhood. ”I have worked my butt so hard for this and I thank Americans for given me this opportunity”  
His victory brings to the fore the prediction of one of the judges, Howie Mendel, that his life will never be the same! This was after the he had performed during the audition to the surprise of all.
The smooth singer will headline at Caesars Palace in October 2011
Source: Ekow Shalders (IDPF, USA)

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Large Marijuana Grow Operation on U.S. Forest Land Eradicated One Man Arrested and Four Others Sought; Will Face Federal Drug Charges

MADISON, WI—John W. Vaudreuil, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that a large marijuana grow operation located in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in Ashland County, Wis., was eradicated today. One individual was arrested at the scene, and four others are at large. The marijuana grow involved thousands of plants over a several-acre area approximately 25 miles northwest of Park Falls, Wis. Law enforcement was alerted to its presence by a tip from a hunter in November 2010.
Approximately 175 federal, state, and local law enforcement agents were involved in today’s operation, which involved the removal of the marijuana plants and the processing of the site for evidence. An evaluation of the scene indicated that the grow operation has been active for some time. The site included a campsite for individuals who cultivated the grow operation. Loaded firearms were found at the campsite.
Law enforcement officials are asking any members of the public who see suspicious individuals in the area to contact the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office at 1- 715- 685-7640.
Any individuals who are arrested in connection with this grow operation will be charged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office with manufacturing marijuana.
“Unfortunately, there are criminals who take advantage of the remote and heavily wooded nature of our national forests to cultivate marijuana on a large-scale basis. Visitors to U.S. forest land who come upon marijuana grow operations should leave the area immediately and report their observations to law enforcement authorities,” United States Attorney Vaudreuil said.
The investigation of this matter is being conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Justice - Division of Criminal Investigation; Ashland County Sheriff’s Department; Drug Enforcement Administration; U.S. Forest Service; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources; Northwest Area Crime Unit (comprised of Sawyer, Douglas and Washburn County Sheriffs’ Departments and Superior Police Department); U.S. Customs and Border Protection; and Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission. The prosecution of the case will be handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Anderson.
FILED BY:EKOW SHALDERS,INSTITUTE FOR DEMOCRACY AND PRESS FREEDOM

Friday, August 5, 2011

Facebook Fake Pleads Guilty to Receipt of Child Pornography

OKLAHOMA CITY—DANIEL LESLIE MOONEYHAM, 32, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, pled guilty today to receipt of child pornography depicting a 15-year-old boy, announced Sanford C. Coats, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma.
According to court records, Mooneyham, using a fake Facebook profile, pretended to be an attractive 18-year-old blonde female named “Terri Smith.” Posing as Terri Smith, Mooneyham would send Facebook “friend” requests to teenage boys, some of whom he knew through church youth group and a youth camp. After establishing a Facebook “friendship” with teenage posing as Terri Smith, Mooneyham would solicit nude pictures in exchange for sexually explicit photos of Terri Smith. Mooneyham would direct them to text or e-mail their nude pictures to a Yahoo! e-mail account that he had created for his Terri Smith Facebook profile. Mooneyham received nude pictures via e-mail from at least three minors. The pictures of Terri Smith that Mooneyham sent the boys depicted an unknown female that Mooneyham had found on the Internet. During the investigation, Mooneyham, posing as Terri Smith, also solicited a sexually explicit photo from an undercover FBI agent who was posing as a 15-year-old boy on Facebook.
The FBI arrested Mooneyham on July 14, 2011, a few days before he was scheduled to return to an Oklahoma youth camp with a church youth group. Mooneyham is currently in federal custody. United States District Judge Timothy D. DeGiusti will sentence Mooneyham in approximately 90 days. He faces not less than five years and up to 20 years in federal prison.
This case was part of Project Safe Childhood, the flagship program in the Department of Justice’s National Strategy for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction, and was the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Hale.
Filed By:Ekow Shalders
IDPF USA

Friday, July 29, 2011

PRESIDENT NANA AKUFFO ADDO AYEKOO


                                                       

It is not yet January 2013 but one need not to be a Bob Shrum, James Carville, Karl Rove or a Ben Ephson to ably configure who will be the President of our dear nation Ghana, come January 2013. The writing is on the wall, President John Evans Atta Mills is done and Ghana will welcome Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo as the next President of the Republic.

The issue of whether President Mills has been a good leader or a bad one will be judged by posterity but for now, Nana Addo deserves all the commendation for sticking around, managing the perceived rift between himself and former President Kuffuor well, bringing and keeping together the Elephant fraternity and more importantly for carefully energizing the base of the party to a historic proportion.
It is obvious that just like President Mills; Nana owes former President Rawlings for bringing this close to the Presidency. One may call it a cat fight, a circus or a joke but the effect of the internal wrangling of the National Democratic Congress of which former President Rawlings is the founder and President Mills the leader has already cost them the 2012 general elections.


SIGNS OF THE TIME

The perception among many ordinary Ghanaians is that President Mills is not in charge and he is actually a spent force. This started as a New Patriotic Party propaganda but was made more popular by the President’s own party faithfuls most especially former President Rawlings, Dr. Spio Garbrah , Kofi Adams and more recently Honorable Teye Nyaunu.
Perception wins elections that is the reason why all over the world, Politicians spend millions to craft messages and embark on all sorts of electioneering campaign gimmicks. The harm done to the Presidency of Mils in the hearts and minds of the average Ghanaian as a result of the ongoing slugfest in the National Democratic Congress is catastrophic and irreparable, perhaps the ingenuity of Edward Bernays of blessed memory  could have help this President if he happened to be  alive today.
Besides perception, experts describe momentum as what actually gets people out to vote on Election Day and the candidate or the party who has the best of that always wins. The National Democratic Congress is now a wailing party and momentum is always found at the door step of vibrant candidates and energized party base which is direct opposite of the National Democratic Congress situation.

Momentum is the frenzy that engulfs party faithfuls at the mere mention of party slogans or even on seeing party paraphernalia. This effect exist where charismatic leadership marries perceived policy acceptance by die hard party members; But President Mills is blessed with something else which is definitely not called charisma and his policies and leadership style is also partly to blame for the current in fighting in the party which means that quiet a section of the party membership are not enthused.
Perhaps, this problem could have been easily solved by former President Rawlings, if it was that Rawlings of 2008, the Rawlings who was the very symbol of the National Democratic Congress, I mean the Rawlings we ho party faithful regarded as the heart and soul of the party; Unfortunately for President Mills, Jerry Rawlings of today is so bruised and battered that he has lost that command and control that characterized his person. The electricity and excitement that Rawlings used to pour on the party is gone and the party and President Mills have lost an energizing force as a result. The National Democratic Congress is struggling to find its rhythm and momentum but unfortunately for Mills, 2012 is just around the corner and it’s simply impossible to build another character like Rawlings of yester- years within this time frame.
During the last elections (2008) the people of Central Region made a huge difference to give Professor Mills the presidential throne.
What is the situation in the region now? The very fishermen who rallied behind the professor and voted massively for him and his NDC are totally disappointed. The Central Regional factor will definitely come to play in 2012 and what will be the fate of the Mills-Mahama pair and the National Democratic Congress? Mills receiving such a massive endorsement by party delegates at their  national delegates congress is not an indication that all is well and will go on to win the coming election sweat-lessly.    
The true reflection of what happened at the NDC congress is that 95%of those who endorsed Professor Mills were people who relied on him for their bread and butter (NOKOFIO NI ABAAYE /KAKRAA NIPA BE DI) and are not prepared to change the status quo.

WHAT NANA ADDO SHOULD DO

Nana Akuffo Addo should keep on doing what he is currently doing. He should listen more and more and stick to his message and allow the National Democratic Congress to continue fighting amongst themselves.
Nana should avoid overly trying to defend himself from the rumor that he is a drug user because it only helps to keep that conversation alive in the media and subtly affects his image and person negatively. He should also avoid such viral comments as “all die be die” because his party has enough vigour and vim to carry them through election 2012 and such comments only help boost President Mills perceived image as a humble and peace loving person. From all indications,it is Nana’s election to lose, it is only a matter of time for Nana to become our President and Ghanaians are eagerly waiting for election 2012 to repudiate this president’s policies and lackluster leadership style.

HOW PRESIDENT MILLS WILL BE REMEMBERED

As a leader, President Mills will be remembered for his ability to break the jinx around former President Rawlings in the Ghanaian body politic. He will also be remembered for his controversial “ Dzi wo Fie asem”  ( Mind your own business) approach he employed in helping to solve the Ivorian crisis after their last disputed elections.
Ghanaians will also remember him as the “Asomdweehene” who perhaps should have been a clergyman. Fair thee well President Mills, Ayekoo Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo, the next President of our dear nation, Ghana.

KOJO AMPAH SAHARA,
PRESIDENT,
AFRICA CULTURAL EXCHANGE
FORDHAM UNIVERSITY, NEW YORK.
LEADING MEMBER-AFRICA PEOPLES ALLIANCE,
GENERAL SECRETARY –ASANTEMAN ASSOCIATION-NEW YORK


 

Thursday, May 5, 2011

OBAMA CONGRATULATES GOODLUCK


OBAMA CONGRATULATES GOODLUCK JONATHAN, COMMENDS NIGERIANS FOR THEIR RESOLVE AND PATIENCE.
WASHINGTON DC- MAY 4 -The President of the United states Barrack Obama Wednesday called President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria to congratulate him on his election victory and also commended the people of Nigeria for their resolve and patience during last month historic presidential ,legislation and gubernatorial election.
                The success of the election was a testament to Nigerian voters who waited in long lines, stayed to watch their votes counted and were determined that these elections marked a new chapter in Nigerian history he said .President Obama gave credit to the Independent Nation Electoral Commission (INEC), the National Youth Service corps (NYSC )and Nigeria’s vibrant civil society, for their role in ensuring that the final results reflected the will of their people.
He however condemned the post election violence that followed the April 16 Presidential election, calling it deplorable, even though majority of Nigerians cast their ballots free from intimidation and coercion. Barack Obama admonished Nigerians to reject violence, as it has no place in a democratic society. Democracy, however neither begins nor ends with elections, now is the time for Nigeria’s leaders and its people to come together and blind the future that they deserve, a multiparty democracy that addresses the aspiration of all Nigerians, especially its youth, who did so much to make the recent elections a success at who will define the nation’s future.
As Africa’s most populous county, Nigeria can show what is possible when people of different parties, ethnicities and faith backgrounds come together seek peace, provide for their families, and give their children a better future, I look forward to strengthening our partnership with Nigeria so that this and future sensations of Nigerians can live in peace, democracy and prosperity. Barack Obama.

Source: Ekow Shalders.
INSTITUTE FOR DEMOCRACY AND PRESS FREEDOM.     

Saturday, January 22, 2011

NO MAN OR WOMAN, BORN OF A WOMAN CAN ALTER YOUR DESTINY.


My friends, the universe may be vast, but it can also be a wonderfully interconnective place .Nobody can alter your God given destiny. What God has spoken concerning your life, must surely manifest to his glory. No matter how long it takes, no matter what the powers that “be.” do to you and your destiny.
Folks, what God has ordained for your life will come to pass like the “WHIRLWIND”. That is where people will begin to question whether or not it is you they are seeing.
My friends, the last time   I had an encounter with God and I think I have to share it with you. No matter what your religious inclinations are, you know something about Governor Joseph and his brothers. You have heard of his    dreams and how he was envied by his own blood brothers. How he was subjected to ridicule and frustrations, how they had wanted to kill him, just because they wanted to alter his destiny.
Eventually they succeeded in selling him into slavery, thinking they had gotten a “touch-down” in their bid to change their brother’s destiny. God, who knew what he had in store for Sir Joseph, lifted him from DISGRACE unto GRACE. Even in slavery, God’s spoken word concerning Joseph’s life manifested. He became a governor and the first minister of food and agriculture in Egypt.
Through this, his brothers, his parents and the entire descendants of father Abraham at the time were saved from hunger and starvation. This fulfilled a long awaited spoken word on the destiny of Joseph. You  might be facing similar situation or going through a lot of difficulties, talebearers are frustrating you, they are saying  all sort of things about you to your bosses .You have lost your bearings in life, your job is lost, your position and all the goodies that life represents are gone. To you, there is no light at the end of the tunnel. You have tried everything humanly possible just to make things happen .Yet there seem to be no end in sight. Nothing seems to be working for you. Whatever you hold seems to be falling apart. You are being swallowed by debts and all sort of financial storms. Are you about to give up? Have you given up? Are you planning to commit suicide and saying that life is not fair? Or are you saying that God is not fair?  Folks, God’s plans for you are so special and spectacular, as even your enemies think they are sending you into bondage and  trying to ex-communicate you from society, God is preparing a very great throne for you. He is making a way where there seem to be no way for you. You will definitely be counting your blessings and naming them one by one.
Do not give up! Your miracle is just on the way. If God in his infinite mercy and grace, can forgive me, and deliver me from my enemies, to fulfill my destiny. Then he can do likewise for you. My God whom I serve shall supply you all your needs according to his riches in glory.
Cast your cares and burden unto him who is able, his name is JESUS. He is always at hand to give you rest .Remember that what is written is written. Your detractors will always try to derail you, but always let God arise and his enemies will be scattered! AMEN
You are blessed .God will make you more honorable he will make you so great.
Source: Ekow Shalders (I.D.P.F USA) 
January 22, 2011






Thursday, January 20, 2011

U.S. & China: Building a Positive, Cooperative, and Comprehensive Relationship



White House,Washington DC----January 19 ----During the state visit of President Hu Jintao to Washington, D.C., President Obama and President Hu highlighted specific means to cooperate on a variety of global and bilateral challenges, including the following:

Center of Excellence on Nuclear Security

Secretary of Energy Steven Chu and Chairman Chen Qiufa of the China Atomic Energy Authority signed a government-to-government agreement establishing a Center of Excellence in China to promote effective nuclear security and safeguards. During the historic Nuclear Security Summit in Washington in April of 2010, Chinese President Hu Jintao agreed to establish a “Center of Excellence” on nuclear security to help support the global effort to secure vulnerable nuclear material around the world. This agreement paves the way for DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration and the Department of Defense to work with our partners in China to develop a center that will provide a central site for training in all aspects of nuclear security. It will serve as a forum for exchanging technical information, sharing best practices, developing training courses, and promoting technical collaborations that will enhance nuclear security in China and throughout Asia. It will also help meet the training needs for China’s expanding nuclear sector and promote nuclear security best practices throughout the region. 


Cooperation on Climate Change, Clean Energy and the Environment

President Obama and President Hu applauded efforts to implement the provisions of the Cancun agreements that build on the Copenhagen Accord; welcomed enhanced cooperation on clean energy and announced joint work plans for the newly established research consortia under the U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center in building efficiency, clean coal, and clean vehicles; signed an agreement with the Chinese Academy of Sciences to promote cooperation in a range of energy, biological, and environmental sciences; started negotiations on a U.S.-China Eco-City Initiative to integrate energy efficiency and renewable energy into city design and operation in our two countries; signed a statement of intent to share data on electric vehicle demonstrations in Los Angeles and Shanghai; and announced two new EcoPartnerships on energy efficiency and clean electricity. 


Science and Technology Cooperation

The United States and China extended the U.S.-China Agreement on Cooperation in Science and Technology,  one of the longest standing agreements between our two countries.  Since it was first signed in 1979, the agreement has fostered exchanges to advance cooperative research in a diverse array of fields, including fisheries, earth and atmospheric sciences, basic research in physics and chemistry, a variety of energy-related areas, agriculture, civil industrial technology, geology, health, and disaster research.

Education

First Lady Michelle Obama hosted an event at Howard University to highlight educational exchanges between our two countries and announce progress on the 100,000 Strong Initiative.  President Obama launched the initiative in November 2009 to reach the goal of encouraging 100,000 American students to study in China.


Health

To promote collaboration between our two countries on health issues, the United States and China announced their intention to establish a public private partnership on healthcare. Working collaboratively with the private sector, the Partnership will support jointly agreed upon activities, including a Healthcare Professional Personnel Exchange Program, studies, consultancies, training, pilot projects, and related project development.


Subnational Cooperation and Dialogue

To build dialogue and cooperation at the subnational level, the United States and China signed a Memorandum of Understanding concerning the establishment of a U.S.-China Governors Forum.  Convened by the National Governors Association and the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the forum will serve as a platform to promote peer-to-peer exchanges between U.S. Governors and Chinese provincial Party Secretaries and Governors on topics of mutual concern such as trade and investment, energy and the environment, tourism, and education.

Customs Training Center

As part of our shared commitment to preventing nuclear smuggling, Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman and Vice Minister Sun Yibiao of the General Administration of China Customs will sign a memorandum of understanding that paves the way for the establishment of a radiation detection training center in Qinhuangdao, China. Under the agreement, the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration will provide radiation detection equipment and support the development of training materials for use at the Qinhuangdao Training Center. The radiation detection training facility at the Qinhuangdao Training Center will be the first of its kind in the region.

Chinese Garden

The United States and China intend to work together to construct a Classical Chinese Garden on the grounds of the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, D.C.  The garden will be a venue for cultural events to enhance the traditional friendship between our two peoples.

Source:Ekow Shalders (INSTITUTE FOR DEMOCRACY AND PRESS FREEDOM,USA)


Friday, January 14, 2011

OBAMA APPLAUDS THE PEOPLE OF TUNISIA

The president of the United States has applauded the courage and dignity of the Tunisian people and condemned and deplored the use of violence against citizens peacefully voicing their opinion .
These were contained in a statement from the White House on the situation in Tunisia.

In the statement ,Mr Obama said"The United States stands with the entire international community in bearing witness  to this brave and determined struggle for the universal rights. We must all uphold and we will long remember the images of the Tunisian people seeking to make their voices heard." 

The statement released on Friday, urged all parties to maintain calm and avoid violence ,with a call on the Tunisian government to respect human rights and to hold free and fair elections in the future that reflects the will and aspirations of the Tunisian people and give life to the principle of democracy in it's own way,grounded in the traditions of it's own people.

The almost 24 year regime of authoritarian president,El Abidine Ben Ali came crushing  through a wide range of protest nicknamed the Jasmine Revolution after the national flower.He has since fled the North African country.

Mr Ben Ali who came to power in 1987 through a bloodless coup that toppled the 31 year regime of  Tunisia's first president Habib Bourguiba ,who established a strict one-party state, Has been accused of wide spread corruption,insensitivity and increased unemployment in the mainly Muslim country.The Jasmine Revolution saw government forces firing tear-gas to disperse gathering and also using force to send crowd away.Meanwhile the prime minister has taken over the affairs of the country.   

Source:Ekow Shalders (I.D.P.F ,USA)