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Showing posts from April, 2013

1 World Trade Center to top out Monday as tallest building in hemisphere

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. STORY HIGHLIGHTS One World Trade Center will top out at 1,776 feet Construction crews will raise the final two sections Monday  Construction crews at the 16-acre World Trade Center site will raise the final two sections of a 408-foot spire to the top of One World Trade Center on Monday morning, making the building the tallest in the Western Hemisphere, according to the site's management. A stainless steel beacon weighing almost six tons will be the final piece put in place to give the building an iconic height of 1,776 feet, according to a news release from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Once the architectural structure is complete, it will be comprised of 18 separate sections of steel and three communication rings. The first -- and heaviest -- steel section was installed in January, weighing more than 67 tons, the news release said. Port Authority Assistant Director of Media Anthony Hayes said the original design included a radome -- short

How puppy smugglers feed Hong Kong's love affair with big dogs

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Tibetan mastiff puppies are displayed for sale at a mastiff show in Baoding, Hebei province, south of Beijing. Fetching prices around $US750,000, mastiffs have become a prized status-symbol among China's wealthy. HIDE CAPTION Big dogs, small city << < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 > >> STORY HIGHLIGHTS Popularity of Tibetan mastiff reaches Hong Kong Dogs are ill-suited to Hong Kong's muggy tropical climate and high density city Demand for status dog breeds in Hong Kong comes in waves  Getting an introduction to Tiger - a 176 pound (80 kilogram) Tibetan mastiff kept on the roof space of a cramped five-story village house in Hong Kong's New Territories -- is a complicated process. The first step is to stand as far away from his cage as is humanly possible; on just 600 square feet of roof space -- and with Tiger a barking, growling, slavering ball of caged fury - nowhere is really quite far en

Brazil unveils shaky answer to the vuvuzela for World Cup

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The World Cup in Brazil will be filled with many noises. But what sound will the caxirola, which will be musical instrument of choice for the 2014 World Cup, make? HIDE CAPTION Shaker maker << < 1 2 3 4 > >> STORY HIGHLIGHTS The caxirola has been unveiled as the "new vuvuzela" for the 2014 World Cup The instrument has been designed by Brazilian musician Carlinhos Brown President Dilma Rousseff has endorsed the caxirola as a fitting symbol of Brazil Whistles will also be produced for the 2014 World Cup   Friends, Brazilians and soccer fans lend me your ears -- the shimmy and shake of the caxirola is coming to a football match near you soon. The pear-shaped plastic percussion piece is to be the musical instrument of choice for the 2014 World Cup after it was given the seal of approval by Brazil's Ministry of Sport. About time too some might argue after the raucous cacophony of the vuvuzel

Denver Nuggets vs. Golden State Warriors: Game 4 Score, Highlights and Analysis

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Tibetan mastiff puppies are displayed for sale at a mastiff show in Baoding, Hebei province, south of Beijing. Fetching prices around $US750,000, mastiffs have become a prized status-symbol among China's wealthy. HIDE CAPTION Big dogs, small city << < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 > >> STORY HIGHLIGHTS Popularity of Tibetan mastiff reaches Hong Kong Dogs are ill-suited to Hong Kong's muggy tropical climate and high density city Demand for status dog breeds in Hong Kong comes in waves  Getting an introduction to Tiger - a 176 pound (80 kilogram) Tibetan mastiff kept on the roof space of a cramped five-story village house in Hong Kong's New Territories -- is a complicated process. The first step is to stand as far away from his cage as is humanly possible; on just 600 square feet of roof space -- and with Tiger a barking, growling, slavering ball of caged fury - nowhere is really quite far en

San Antonio Spurs vs. L.A. Lakers: Game 4 Score, Highlights and Analysis

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Well, there's not many positives that can be taken away from the L.A. Lakers' ugly 103-82 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. With  Dwight Howard 's  ejection , atrocious play on both sides of the ball, and the realization that the franchise's future may be bleak as well, the Lakers' 2012-13 season has finally come to an end. The only real highlight for the Lakers in this awful Game 4 was when  Kobe Bryant hobbled out into the stands  behind the team bench in the third quarter to give the Lakers faithful something to cheer and get excited about. While this wasn't exactly a game highlight, listening to some fan heckle Manu Ginobili and Matt Bonner was entertaining, especially considering the Lakers weren't in this one really at any point. The Lakers' awful playoff series aside, the San Antonio Spurs really showed everyone why they are now the easy favorites to represent the Western Conference in the NBA Finals. One of the biggest highlig

CHALLENGES FACING NIGERIAN LOCAL CONTENT IN OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY

The petroleum industry in Nigeria is the largest industry and mean generator of Gross Domestic product (GDP) in the West African Nation. Inspite of the huge financial investment made by the Nigerian government in the oil and gas industry of the economy, it has not resulted in significant benefits for most Nigerians. The local content (LC) in the industry is still very low as over 60% of the major activities, e.g exploration, drilling, production, well intervention and service provision remain primarily controlled and managed by multi-national oil companies. Only minor contract have been awarded to local contractors. Several challenges, ranging from infrastructural development, political stability, Good investment climate, project Financing, Transparency, High Educational Standards, Legal Policy, Resource Management, Research & Development, Fiscal Policy, Environmental Policy are some of the factor impeding the set target by the Federal Government to achieve 70% in 2010, its local c

File photo: Flooded Lamoye street, Ijesha, Surulere

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Jonathan is playing politics with Amaechi – Okupe

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Dr. Doyin Okupe, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs was in the Corporate Office of Vanguard Media Limited during which he had an interactive session with Vanguard editors on topical issues affecting the polity. He spoke on the administration’s response to the Boko Haram insurgency, corruption and the face off between the presidency and Governor Chibuke Amaechi of Rivers State among other issues. Excerpt: Flip-flopping of the FG on Boko Haram We are not in touch with Shekau. There is no flip-flopping. When you are saddled to run and govern a country like Nigeria, there are so many so many considerations that come into play. To manage and to pilot the ship of this country in order that it does not capsize is an arduous task. When the president went to Borno and Yobe, and he said ‘I will not grant amnesty to ghosts’,  he was right and it was correct. I said Shekau is the leader, I did not say he is the recognised leader because he is the one that comes up an

Kenny Ogungbe, Okoroji exchange hot words at Entertainment Confab

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The Nigerian Entertainment Conference held over the weekend at the Grand ball room of the Eko Hotel and suites, Victoria Island, Lagos was nearly marred by violent exchange of words between Kennis Music Boss Mr. Kenny Ogungbe and Chairman of Copyright Society of Nigeria COSON, Chief Tony Okoroji. Chief Tony Okoroji had confronted Kenny Ogungbe in the presence of journalists for daring to say in public that COSON owed him (Kenny Ogungbe) money. “How could he say such a thing? And in public?” Chief Okorogie fumed. Kenny Ogungbe and Chief Okoriji shortly before the exchanges Kenny Ogungbe on his part remained resilient, insisting he would stand by his words. They exchanged hot, abusive words impossible to publish including the F word as they were pulled apart by concerned friends who feared the brawl may soon go physical.

50 Cent Says Hip Hop Has Become "This Little Hipster Thing

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Many have opined that what is now popular in Hip Hop has changed. In a recent interview,  revealed he's of that school of thought as well. "I think you miss the things when they're gone. When you look around and see it's turned into this little hipster thing, the culture's not even what it was, initially," said Fif in an interview with HYPETRAK. "You start to look for something that's representation of what it was in the past, that you actually loved about it or you what you actually enjoyed. It turned into a fashion show for a little while." "Artists are writing about fashion and that part's like, it's crazy, that part was never a core of the actual art," continued Fif, possibly referring to artists such as and , two fashion aficionados. "It was so many different [things]. You had to offer different walks, different perspectives. Your album was supposed to be better than the other guy's album. The competitive p

Obama tells families of Texas blast victims that nation will help them recover

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Obama consoles devastated Texas town STORY HIGHLIGHTS NEW:  Brother of firefighter says fallen are heroes forever Obama says no words describe how courageous those who died were Families pay tribute through video messages Relatives pass 12 flag-draped coffins, each with a picture of a fallen firefighter  A row of 12 coffins, each draped with a flag, symbolizes the human cost of an explosion that destroyed much of a small Texas town and left the residents of that town searching for answers. Hundreds of firefighters from across the nation and other first-responders joined grieving families and President Barack Obama and the first lady at the Ferrell Center in Waco, site of a memorial service Thursday for some of the last week in the nearby town of West. The president told the crowd that no words adequately describe the courage displayed by those who died. "What I can do is offer the love and support and prayers of the nation," Obama said.