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Australia Pays 68% More for Software

The Australian government has been investigating unfair electronics pricing in the area for a while now. Unfortunately, it turned out that the Aussies have really got a raw deal.




Unsurprisingly, such corporate giants as Apple, Microsoft, and Adobe weren’t very keen on the inquiry, because the Australians pay about 66% more for Microsoft products and 42% more for Adobe software than the rest of the world.

It turned out that games cost 84% more than in the United States, music 52% more and hardware 46% more. Apparently, inflated prices were only part of an added cost of business to trade in the country, but it doesn’t actually hold up to scrutiny while considering digital downloads.

According to the recent report, the investigating committee claimed it has no idea why it’s “almost invariably cheaper” for Australian games to buy and ship physical media from the United Kingdom to Australia than to get a copy of the same game.

Taking into account the evidence presented to the Committee of very large price differentials, it turned out too difficult for it to avoid the conclusion that such practices lead to international price discrimination to the clear disadvantage of local consumers and companies. Therefore, the Australian Bureau of Statistics was recommended to work on a program that would monitor the price of IT products, hardware and software in Australia and everywhere else in the world.

While universities were encouraged to investigate the needs and costs for education, the Committee suggested to enforce a federally mandated IT procurement policy as well. The most interesting fact is that Australians can get a “right of resale” legislation which would allow them to sell on old digital music and ebooks.

Facebook Launched Project for Developers

Facebook seems to be shafting its long-term business partner Zynga – media reports confirm that the social network is rolling out a pilot program for small and medium game developers. Facebook is going to work with select game developers and offer promotional support for their games through ads in mobile applications.




Facebook is planning to provide game developers access to its 800 million monthly mobile users. In addition, the tech giant will offer a variety of analytics instruments to measure their games’ success and a “targeting ability” to find the proper audiences and share a cut of the games’ revenue with them. If Facebook likes some developers, the company promises to help cultivate high-quality, long-term players for their games.

Everything is all right with that, but those are the sort of things that granted Zynga its privileged status on Facebook. In its day, the company’s “FarmVille” franchise made the social network a pile of cash, but when it found its userbase and revenues falling, the company had to shut down games and initiate punishing rounds of layoffs.

Not so long ago, Xbox executive Don Mattrick took over as CEO of the company, but it seems that he really will have his work cut out turning the outfit around. It will be much harder now because Zynga’s relationship with Facebook is demoted. In the meantime, other developers have already understood how they can use many of Zynga’s tricks and the social network’s audience for their own ends. In case Facebook encourages more small and medium developers to pay their attention to social gaming, the company could fill the arena with even more competitors.

Texting Spoils Handwriting

The experts confirmed that handwriting skills have progressively dropped with technology increasing communication speeds. For example, the observers noticed a dramatic downturn in the legibility of handwritten court documents.




In addition, the experts admit that the loss of handwriting skills “comes at the price of a rotting of the mind”. Texting is believed to be part of the problem, as people have lost the knack of writing long sentences. As a result, people are not using their minds but instead are relying on technology which can decide for them.

The experts point out that cursive writing uses mental and physical processes that involve both left and right side of the brain. However, cursive writing decreases with technology becoming the most dominant means of communication. Indeed, typing or texting is only a matter of punching and finger-moving, where people don’t care much about doing any thinking because they are not allowing their brain to form neural processes.

According to a 2012 study, 33% of people experience difficulty with reading their own handwriting. For example, Docmail, a British printing and mailing firm, has revealed that 30% of participants hadn’t been required to produce something in handwriting for more than six months. It turned out that updating calendars, phone books and reminder notes is more likely to be done without even using a pen or a pencil. Moreover, over 50% of participants admitted that their handwriting was poor.

Nigerian police: sergeant sacked for attempted bribe-taking caught on cameraphone

The Lagos State Police Command has dismissed a police sergeant, Chris Omeleze, who was caught on video camera extorting N25,000 from a motorist in Lagos.

In the video footage made available to our correspondent, an unidentified male motorist is seen pleading with the Omeleze to accept N2,000 for a traffic offence but the sergeant blatantly refuses.

The sergeant, who is seen on the passenger seat, places a call to his superior on the telephone, saying the motorist’s car must be impounded for refusing to ‘Cooperate.’

Emmy Kosgey set to wed Nigerian tycoon

Celebrated Kenyan gospel music queen Emmy Kosgey is set to get married to a Nigerian pastor and tycoon.

After rumours of their wedding did rounds in the social media, Ms Kosgey Thursday exclusively confirmed to the Nation that she was set to get married.

“His name is Apostle Anselm Madubuko, the Overseer of Revival Assembly Cathedral based in Lagos,” she said. “We are in love and plans of tying the knot are underway.”

She said she would have three weddings— two at the end of this month and the third one in Lagos early September.

“We shall first do a traditional wedding at my parents’ place in Nakuru, then followed by a church wedding,” she explained.

“The traditional wedding will be for all my fans, friends and relatives, while the church one will be a card-only affair.”

Dismissing rumours that she was getting married to Apostle Madubuko because of his wealth, she said that she needed a man who understands her.

“I am a gospel musician and I have been looking for a man who will understand and accommodate my busy performance schedule. Being in God’s ministry, he is perfect for me and I have already experienced that,” she said.

On the wealth issue, she said she was already comfortable with what she gets from her music

“Furthermore, is there anything wrong with someone getting married to a rich person?”

The two met a few years ago through Emmy’s performances as the apostle was preaching. After being friends for a while, they started dating last December.

After marriage, Emmy said her music would continue. “In fact, it will be better for me because my music will now get into the international platform.”

Barca make Luiz bid

Barcelona have reportedly made a €25-million bid for Chelsea defender David Luiz.

The Spanish champions have added Neymar to their roster ahead of the new La Liga season, but have been frustrated in attempts to strengthen at the back.

They have missed out on Brazilian duo Marquinhos and Thiago Silva, and have now targeted a third Selecao defender in the shape of Luiz.

If Barcelona miss out on Luiz, it is thought they will turn their attention to Liverpool’s Danish centre-back Daniel Agger.

Kanu tips Mikel for CAF Award

Two-time winner Nwankwo Kanu has tipped countryman John Mikel Obi to win the 2013 CAF African Player of the Year award.

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Kanu was the last Nigerian to win the award, back in 1999, and he told KickOffNigeria.com that Mikel, and teammate Victor Moses, had done enough to return the plaque to Nigeria 14 years on.

"I think for me Mikel should win it this year, or Victor Moses," Kanu said. "They had a great Nations Cup and then won the Europa League with their club.

"And then if you look at Mikel's performance at the Fifa Confederations Cup, he was simply outstanding, so I believe he should win it."

Kanu, who turned 37 on August 1, was a winner in 1996 and 1999.

The closest any Nigerian has come since then was Austin Okocha in 2004, and the former captain says Nigerian players must do more to earn respect.

"I think the players have to prove themselves like they are doing now and I am happy that Stephen Keshi is encouraging them to play at their best,"

Jonathan lacks capacity to move Nigeria forward

Former Federal Capital Territory Minister, Mohammed Abba Gana, yesterday came under attack from northern political leaders, who denigrated him for daring to canvass for four more years for President Goodluck Jonathan.

The Secretary General of the Northern Elders’ Forum, Prof Ango Abdullahi and second Republic lawmaker, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, dismissed Abba-Gana’s suggestion for a second term for Jonathan as ill-conceived, pointing out that the President did not deserve it.

According to the two northern leaders, Jonathan had failed to tackle the myriad of challenges confronting the nation, thereby showing that he lacked the capacity to move Nigeria forward.

Another four years for Jonathan would push the country into the abyss and Nigerians cannot afford to take such a risk, the two men said, pointing out that Abba Gana was not qualified to speak for the north, going by his antecedents.

The former minister incurred the wrath of the northern leaders when he advocated in Lagos on Monday that giving Jonathan another four years would not hurt the North in any way.
 
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CBN withdraws N1trn from banking system

The Central Bank Of Nigeria (CBN) removed an estimated N1 trillion from the banking system on Wednesday, causing interbank lending rates to spike by 7 percentage points from Tuesday’s close, but failing to lift the naira.

Interbank lending rates rose to around 19 per cent, up from around 12 per cent at Tuesday’s close, after the apex bank debited banks accounts to meet a hike in the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) on public sector deposits to 50 per cent, from 12 per cent previously.

Also, the naira fell slightly against the dollar, closing at N160.10 to the dollar on the interbank market on Wednesday, weaker than the N159.65 to the dollar it closed at on the previous day.

Dealers said this was because banks had already sold their dollar positions to meet the new requirement ahead of Wednesday, so the impact had already been priced in, adding that banks had already sold down liquid assets and dollars to replenish their cash balances in preparation for the withdrawal.

“The central bank finally debited our accounts today, draining the market of liquidity and the overnight rate went up to 19 per cent. The market had priced the effect of the huge cash withdrawal since the announcement two weeks ago, while fresh dollar demand and lack of dollar flows are expected to push down the value of the naira next week,” one dealer said.

Analysts say Nigeria will need to attract back foreign inflows for the central bank’s move to have a sustained positive effect on the naira. Nigeria is a growing destination for foreign investors, but it remains vulnerable to capital flight.

On the bi-weekly foreign exchange auction, the central bank sold $248.45 million at 155.75 to the dollar, compared with $285 million sold at the same rate on Monday.

FG urged to facilitate Ibori’s release from London jail

MORE than one year after former Delta State governor, Chief James Ibori, was convicted by a London court, his kinsmen and key political stakeholders in Delta State have called on the Federal Government to facilitate his release and subsequent return to Nigeria, describing him as an epitome of infrastructural and human capital development in the state.

Niger Delta activist and Warri chief, Ayirimi Emami, who was among stakeholders that spoke to newsmen in Oghara, the country home of Chief Ibori, shortly after a novelty football match organised to celebrate the former governor’s 55th birthday, described his travail as political, adding that Ibori developed the youths, roads and other infrastructure to better the lots of Deltans.

Chief Emami, Chairman of Itsekiri Regional Development Committee, IRDC, said: “Despite being in prison, if Ibori happens to contest election now, he will win because he is a man of the people.”

Delta State Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Ben Igbakpa, an aide to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, Faith Majemite, a member on the board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Mr. Henry Ofa and other top political office holders in Delta State, who also bared their minds described the huge turn-out of people at the novelty football match played at the Oghara township stadium between Ibori United of Oghara and Ibori United of Warri as a testament of the ex governor’s popularity and developmental strides while he was in the saddle as Delta State chief executive.

An Oghara indigene, Simon Otobo opined that the Urhobo, who prayed for Ibori’s arrest were  now regretting doing so because of the political gulf his absence was causing the Urhobo nation and pleaded for leniency on the part of the Nigerian and British governments.

An elderly woman and a commercial motorcycle rider, Omoko Rose and Edafewogho Ekawhen, respectively, commended the former governor for developing Oghara in Ethiope West Local Government Area of the state and appealed to the Federal Government to work towards Ibori’s release, noting that it would help stabilise the polity.

Delta State Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Ben Igbakpa, an aide to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, Faith Majemite, a member in the board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Mr. Henry Ofa and other top political office holders in Delta State, who also bared their minds described the huge turn-out of people at the novelty football match played at the Oghara township stadium between Ibori United of Oghara and Ibori United of Warri as a testament of the ex governor’s popularity and developmental strides while he was in the saddle as Delta State chief executive.

ASUU STRIKE: Student unions differ, as JAF plans mass protest

The strike embarked on by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on July 1, 2013 has indeed tested the boundaries of student unionism. From the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) to other realms of student activism, conflicting perceptions reflect students’ reaction to the ASUU strike. This report brings the different voices to the fore.

It would be recalled that last executive members of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, led by the National Assistant Secretary, Mr. Ali Mohammed disowned the national president, Mr. Yinka Gbadebo, on what they referred to as “his support for the Federal Government in the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.” Some members of the executive told newsmen that students were largely unbiased in the crisis and the inclination of Mr. Gbadebo to support the government was a deviation from the students’ collective goal of resolving the crisis.

“The national president did not have our mandate to support the Federal Government over the strike as we are a neutral body. We do not support either the Federal Government or ASUU because it is the students that bear the brunt of the strike. We call on ASUU and the Federal Government to resolve the issue within seven days so that the students can return to their campuses.” However, in a phone call with Vanguard Learning, Mohammed confirmed that he was not at all conversant with the issues behind the strike.

Ayo Toe, the chairman of the Student Union Transition Committee, Obafemi Awolowo University is also the leader of the southwest senators at NANS. Toe, while commenting on the weak response of student leaders to the strike said: “NANS as a body is no longer on the campus, it is in Abuja. A lot of these executives are not even students themselves, and as a result, cannot feel the pains of students.

“I, however, disagree with those who said that the NANS President was in support of the Federal Government. Yinka Gbadebo did not take any position. ASUU went on strike without informing us, and now they are seeking students’ support. I heard rumours that ASUU is paying some students as much as N16, 000 to stage protests for them. We neither support the Federal Government nor ASUU.”

Not all student leaders buy into this non-aligned movement. Mr. Adeyemo Tunde is the coordinator of the south- west zone of NANS. While speaking to Vanguard Learning, Adeyemo said; “We would like the government to implement the 2009 agreement signed with ASUU.

“We are fully in support of the ASUU strike, but our struggle is beyond the strike. I have high regard for Yinka Gbadebo, but this is not personal. In our opinion, NANS cannot be neutral on this matter. When the strike began, our zone passed a vote of no confidence on Mr. President, and declared a state of emergency in education.” The south-west zone has also begun to mobilise youths for a mass protest in Lagos next Tuesday.

The mass protest is being organised by the Joint Action Front (JAF) to pressure the government to implement agreement with ASUU and other unions in the sector. In a statement signed by the JAF chairperson, Dr. Dipo Fashina, tagged; Education is our right, system change is our goal, the JAF boss said; “JAF is resolved with other stakeholders in the Education sector to kick-start with mass rallies/procession on Tuesday, August 13th in Lagos at the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) headquarters, Tejuoso-Yaba at 8am. This will be followed by zonal rallies in Kano, Ibadan, Owerri, Calabar/Port Harcourt, and Abuja.”

Continuing, Fashina said; “The rallies/procession are a buildup towards a nationwide mass protest that will become inevitable should the government remain insensitive. We in JAF are of the strong opinion that government at all levels in Nigeria operate anti-poor policies and this is clearly expressed in their lack of disposition to public education. Government should be blamed for all the crises in the education sector, including the incessant strikes. The unions in education sector are not making fresh demands. Each time any of the unions goes on strike, it is because the federal and state governments failed to implement agreements they freely entered into and signed with any of the unions.”

Whether or not the mass protests will attract strong student support remains to be seen. The last protest organised by the Education Rights Campaign (ERC) at the University of Lagos involved only a handful of students. Mr. Hassan Soweto, the ERC boss attributed this to the hijack of student unions by government agents.

“No doubt, NANS and so many other associations have been taken over by government agents. These associations have no interest in fighting for education. If the government pays them enough money, they will keep quiet. As for the faction of NANS which is against Gbadebo, it is difficult to have a clear picture about that. Very soon, the elections to replace the late senate president of NANS will be held, I believe that some people are using this situation as excuse to gain cheap popularity.”

Emmanuel Ahanonu, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Campus Journalists said; “It is very unfortunate that NANS is divided. I commend ASUU’s actions, but I feel that it is to the detriment of students. ASUU should first of all have taken the Federal Government to court, the strike should have been a last resort.

“ASUU’s grievances are legitimate, but it is the students who are suffering. It doesn’t seem fair that instead of spending four to five years in school, a student will spend about eight years because of the strike. It is only helping to increase crime in the country. Student unionism especially on the part of NANS has been reduced to money and politics. There are a lot of students who are grieved about the situation, but are simply gnashing their teeth in silence because those who are supposed to speak on their behalf are quiet.”

WAEC releases May/June 2013 examination results-53% makes six credits

The WAEC on Wednesday released the full results of 1,543,683 candidates who sat for its May/June 2013 Secondary School Certificate Examination.

The number represents 91.38 per cent of 1,689,188 candidates who registered for the examination,.

The Head of National Office (HNO) of WAEC, Dr Charles Eguridu, announced the results on Wednesday when he addressed a news conference in Lagos.

Eguridu said 889,636 candidates obtained six credits and above, while 1,074,065 others obtained five credits and above.

According to him, the results of 145,505 others, representing 8.62 per cent, were being processed due to some errors.

“These errors are traceable to the candidates as well as their schools in the course of registration or writing the examination.’’

The HNO explained that such errors were being corrected by the council to enable the affected candidates to get their results fully processed and released subsequently.

Eguridu disclosed that the council cancelled the result of 2,176 candidates.

He explained that the cancellation was due to multiple entries by the candidates discovered while processing the results.

“In line with the council’s regulation, the entire results of such candidates who have been found guilty of this act had been cancelled, “ he said.

The HNO also said 112,865 results of candidates, representing 6.75 per cent, were withheld due to examination malpractice.

Eguridu pointed out that the cases were being investigated and that reports of the investigations would be presented to the Nigeria Examinations Committee (NEC) for consideration.

Further breakdown revealed that 1,225,591 candidates obtained credits and above in four subjects, 1,353,273 obtained credits and above in three subjects, while 1,465,581 obtained credits and above in two subjects.

Eguridu said that of the 121 blind candidates, 117 attempted it while 24 obtained five credits in five subjects including English Language.

“Blind candidates do not take Mathematics and Science Practical in WASSCE diets“, he said.

He hailed security agencies for providing the much needed security throughout the conduct of the examination.

The HNO said that despite the security challenge in the country, especially in some parts of the North-East, the council was able to conduct the examination.

“We thank the Federal government and security agencies particularly in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States for the support rendered the council during the conduct of our examination.

“We equally commend the Federal and State Ministries of Education for their support in terms of their facilities and logistics given to us during the conduct of the examination.’’

He decried the murder of three of the council’s personnel by gunmen while on their way from Yola to Maiduguri.

The candidates can check their results online on the council’s website within 24 hours of the declaration of the results.

Bomb kills teens playing street football

A bomb killed 11 people in a poor district of Pakistan’s financial hub of Karachi on Wednesday, mostly teenagers playing street football at a crowded market, officials said.

The sweltering port of 18 million people is largely inured to violence with a dozen bodies found around the city every day but the killing of so many youngsters shocked many residents.

“There was total chaos when the bomb went off. People were screaming and running for safety,’’ said resident Zafar Baluch.

It was unclear who was behind the blast in the Lyari district, a stronghold of the main opposition Pakistan People’s Party.

Karachi is home to many militant groups, including the Taliban. Many political parties there have armed wings to fight turf wars.

The attack appeared to be aimed at a provincial minister, Javed Nagori, who had come to hand out prizes at the football match, said provincial information minister Sharjeel Memon.

The children had been playing while their parents shopped for the upcoming Muslim holiday of Eid. In the run-up to Eid, many markets open all night since residents are fasting during the day.

“There was smoke everywhere and people were covered in glass,’’ said Sheree, who didn’t want to give her last name.

She was near Nagori’s convoy when the blast knocked her off her feet. She saw the bodies of three children, she said.

In the capital of Islamabad, security forces have been put on high alert until the holiday is over.

6 youths set ablaze in Abeokuta for gambling

Compound, in Ago Oko area of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on Tuesday night, for gambling at the backyard of a middle aged man (name withheld).

The suspect, Nigerian Tribune learnt, had earlier reported his action at the a nearby police station, but the spokesman of the Ogun State police command, Mr Muyiwa Adejobi, told newsmen that the culprit was arrested.

An eyewitness told the Nigerian Tribune that the suspect was provoked to take the action while the youths were gambling in his compound against his several warnings.

Adejobi said that information at the command’s disposal indicated that the suspect poured Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) on the youth during an argument.

The PPRO said, “Information available to us is that the suspect had an argument with the youths before he poured PMS on them at Ago-Oko area.

“For now, we cannot ascertain other circumstances that led to the incident but we have the suspect in our custody and we are working hard to untie what led to it.”

The victims of the incident were identified as Saburi Seteolu, Raheem Bello, Tunde Adesanya, Suleiman Adebesin, Azeez Alabi and Kola Sodehinde.

Adejobi, a Deputy Superintended of Police, thereafter, said that the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Ikemefuna Okoye, had ordered a comprehensive investigation into the matter, adding that the suspect would be charged to court as soon as investigation into the matter was concluded.

He also warned youths in the area not to engage in any reprisal attack, saying that that could disrupt peace of the area.

Four of the victims were admitted at the emergency unit of the General Hospital, Ijaiye, Abeokuta, while others were taken to private hospitals.