Nigeria@50:Brasil to translate Achebe, Achichie's novel to Portuguese.

The Brazilian government is to translate the works of two prominent Nigerian writers, Prof. chinua Achebe and Chimamanda Achichie,
into Portuguese and other international languages to honor Nigeria on her celebration of her 50th independence anniversary.
Brazilian Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms Anna Perez, who disclose this at the four-day international colloquium organized by the centre
for Black Africa Arts and Civilization, CBAAC, in Abuja yesterday, also said Nigerian culture, in the form of literature and other
forms of writing, have long permeated the Brazilian society.
The works so published are: classic novels: Things Fall Apart and Half of the Yellow Sun, works that have won international acclaims and
Have succeeded in telling the African story. She commended Nigerian writers for being consistent and being some of the best in the world.
    Perez said: “since Nigeria gave Nobel laureate to the world in the person of Prof.Wale Soyinka, the world, particular the Brazilian community, has come to recognize Nigerian writers far and above the rest.” This according to her “is so because Brazil has the largest number of black in the Diaspora, making it the African country across the Atlantic”
    Reacting to the theme of the conference, which is “Global Africans, Pan Africanism, Decolinsation and integration in Africa: Past,Present and Future,” and organized in conjunction with Pan Africanism, Strategic and Policy Research Group, PANAFSTRAG, the ambassador said Nigeria remain the basics for which most blacks Brazilians judge the development level  in African.
    In his own responds, Gen Isola Williams Rrd or PANAFSTRAG said for African to develop and make meaningful impact in the world affairs, the total concept of Pan-Africanisn has to be redefined. He cited culture and language as basic component s for meaning full development in African. To him, the example of Japan, China, and other Asian Tigers suffice in this case.

AbdulMutallab's trial resumes over failed airline plot.

A 23-year-old Nigerian, Farouk AbdulMutalab, charged with trying to blow up an international flight neear Detroit,
United State on Christmas day, 2009 will be arraign in court for the first time since January.

This follows disclosures that his lawyers have talk to persecutors several times about a plea deal.

US District Judge, Nancy Edmunds was expected to set a trial date on Monday, eight months after AbdulMutallb was arraigned
on six charges the Associated Press reports.

On January 6, 2010, a US federal grand jury indicted him on six criminal charges, including attempting use of a weapon of mass
destruction and attempted murder.

He was said to have concealed plastic explosives in his underweaar but failed to donate them properly, rwesulting in
flames and popping noises.

In a court filing, defense lawyers last week said they had talked to prosecutors on "multiple occassions" about resolving
the case. But the US attoney's office has declioned to comment as making a plea deal would send the wrong message, said Shama Chopra.

"They have enough evidence to put Mr AbdulMutallab in prison for life," Shama Chopra of Montreal said in an email.

AbdulMutallab is being held at a federal prison in Milan, Michigan, while awaiting trial. He has not appeared ain court since January 8.

AbdulMutallab wanted to blow up a US-bound Delta airlineon December 25, 2009, but was not successfyll.

Teenager barred from US for abusing Obama

A British teenager, Luke Angel has ben barred from the United State for life for sending President Barack Obama an abusive email, skynews reports.     Angel, who lives in Bedfordshire, United Kingdom,was reprimanded by police on both side of the atlantic after firing off a drunken message to the White House calling the President a "p****. "
     The US Federal Bureau of Investigation intrcepted the message and contacted Police in UK whowent to see the 17-year-old at his home in Silsoe, Bedfordshire.
     Luke, a college student, is now on the list of people who are banned from visiting the State. The teenage said in a statement that he had sent the email after watching a TV programme about the september 11, 2001 terror attack in the US.
     When asked about the ban, Luke said, "I don't really care." My parent aren't very happy about it. "The police who came round took my picture and told me i was banned from American forever."
     A Bedfordshire Police spokesman said, "The individual sent an email to the white House full of abusive and threatening language."
    "We were informed by the Metropolitan Police and went to see him. He said, 'Oh dear, it was me.' "

Written by Harrison Paul