Indonesian Probe on Russian Plane Crash

Russian Plane Crash Probe Focuses on Black Box

16 May 2012

Indonesian members of a search and rescue team assisting in the Sukhoi Superjet 100 crash recovery mission in Cijeruk, Indonesia 

AFP

Indonesian investigators have expressed hope that the recently recovered cockpit voice recorder from a Russian airliner that crashed into a mountain last week would help explain why the disaster occurred, reports AFP.

The new Sukhoi Superjet 100 slammed into Mount Salak, a dormant volcano south of the capital Jakarta, with the loss of all 45 people onboard.

Indonesian Special Forces and Russian experts had combed the densely forested mountain for days looking for its "black boxes" as questions mounted about whether technical failure or human error caused the Sukhoi to crash.

The cockpit black box record pilots' conversations between themselves and with air traffic control. Another black box from the plane, which records vital aircraft functions, remains missing.

"The flight data recorder has not been found. What was found was the CVR," said Daryatmo, head of the national search and rescue agency. "We are asking rescuers to continue the search."

Ketut Parwa, head of Jakarta's search agency, said that the voice recorder was found late on Tuesday around 100 metres (330 feet) from the Sukhoi's severed tail.

The plane, helmed by a veteran Russian pilot, disappeared from radar screens on May 9 shortly after taking off from Jakarta. It was supposed to be on a brief exhibition flight to showcase the new aircraft to prospective buyers.

The recovered black box appeared charred from the crash but officials could not say yet whether it had suffered any damage.

The voice recorder has been handed over to Indonesia's National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT), which is leading the investigation with the help of more than 70 Russian experts.

"In general, black boxes are tough and can withstand impact," said KNKT chief, Tatang Kurniadi.

"We hope the CVR will shed light on what led to the crash. We hope we can get crucial information, mainly communications by the pilot and other people during the last moments," he said.

"We will need up to three weeks to process the data, if the condition is good."

The twin-engine jet is Russia's first post-Soviet civilian aircraft and was to be the new emblem for the nation's aviation industry. A joint venture with Italy's Alenia Aeronautica, the plane made its first commercial flight last year.

A Russian fact-finding committee has said there are indications that safety standards were violated in the demonstration flight. Russian officials said that a full investigation into the cause of the crash could take up to a year.

Key to the mystery is why the pilot requested permission to descend from 10,000 feet (3,000 metres) to 6,000 feet before the plane hit Mount Salak, which rises to 7,200 feet.

Indonesia's transport ministry has confirmed that a control tower in Jakarta gave the pilot permission to descend as the plane approached a military base, where mountains reach up to around 3,000 feet.

Online photos of an earlier demonstration flight on the same day show smiling passengers on board being treated to champagne, as well as cheerful Russian and Indonesian crew members posing outside the jet.

Rescuers said the bodies of the 45 crash victims were strewn across a section of the mountain, with some having fallen into a deep ravine.nigeriamasterweb.com

Best player in EPL history

Giggs named best player in EPL history

MANCHESTER United veteran Ryan Giggs has been named as the Premier Leagues’ best player in its 20 year history. The 38-year-old winger has been ever present since the rebranding of the top-flight back in 1992, recently breaking the 900 appearances mark in all competitions – all for the Red Devils.
During his time at Old Trafford, Giggs has lifted the league title 12 times, with two Champions League winners medals and whole host of other domestic and continental honours inbetween.
Individually, the Welsh wizard won PFA Young Player of the Year twice in succession and Players’ Player of the Season for his performances in the 2008/09 campaign, whilst claiming the BBC Sports Personality of the Year in the same season.
The former international captain also holds numerous records throughout the history of the Premier League, with such accolades as most capped player with 638 appearances, the only player to have played and scored in every season of the Premier League, as well as the first to score 100 goals in the league for United.
On being named the league’s best player in its 20 year running, Giggs told the Premier League: "It's a joy to be a part of the Premier League, to see it right from the start to what it is now."

Major Challenge for US Security Agents

Arrest of Nigerian for ID Theft Baffles US Investigators

16 May 2012

nigeriamasterweb.com

Bimbo Olumuyiwa Oyewole

ByTokunbo Adedoja  

United States is currently looking into how a Nigerian, Bimbo Olumuyiwa Oyewole, who had been using a stolen identity to work at Newark Liberty International Aiport, scaled through several security and background checks carried out in the last 20 years.

Oyewole, 54, who is believed to be an illegal immigrant, had been using the Social Security card and birth record of  one Jerry Thomas, who was murdered in  Queens, New York in 1992, about the same time Oyewole resumed work at the airport - which is one of the busiest, not only in the US, but in the world.

Until his arrest at his residence in Elizabeth, New Jersey on Monday, he was a supervisor with FJC Security Services, a private security company at the airport, where he was in charge of about 30 guards.

What US intellegence community is currently looking at is how  he successfully scaled through several background checks carried out by his employer, the New Jersey Police, and the US Customs and Border Protection, over the years undetected. 

FJC Security Services Spokesman, Michael McKeon said, “In all cases, he passed the background checks," adding, "during his time with FJC, he had nothing in his record or his performance to indicate a cause for concern or a reason to question the state police and federal government’s background checks.”

Oyewole's arrest is also raising questions on the effectiveness of some of the post 9/11 security measures put in place, particularly with regards to airport security personnel screening.  Coincidentally, Newark Liberty International Airport was one of the airports from where the 9/11 highjackers took-off.

Though, no other motive, apart from identity theft had been established in his arrest, investigators  may however be looking into whether there is a nexus between the murder of Thomas and his stolen identity, which Oyewole assumed shortly after the victim's death.

A statement issued by the Homeland Security Transportation Security Subcommittee  of the US House of Representatives Tuesday said a hearing on airport security breaches would hold on Wednesday (today).

Though the statement did not make reference to the arrest of Oyewole, it however said the hearing  would be on, "Access Control Point Breaches at Our Nations's Airports: Anomalies or Systemic Failures?"

At his appearance in court in Essex County on Tuesday, Oyewole, who arrived in US in 1989, pleaded not gulity to a 1-count charge of identity theft and he is being held on $250,000 bail.

New World Goalscoring Record

nigerianmailonline.com

Messi Sets World Goalscoring Record

SPORTS — By Damie 'Laoye on May 8, 2012 1:26 pm

Barcelona striker,  Lionel Messi has smashed the world record for the most goals in a single season – scoring an astonishing 72 in all competitions.

The previous record of 70 goals was set 87 years ago by a player with the former US team, Bethlehem Steel.

Scotsman Archie Stark notched up the tally in the 1924-25 campaign, five years before the club folded.
Argentinian Messi passed him after scoring all the goals in Barca’s 4-0 home defeat of Espanyol on Saturday night.
His third goal at the Camp Nou saw him capture his 14th hat-trick in La Liga.
The fourth – his second penalty in the game – took him to 50 league goals, an achievement he celebrated with outgoing Barca coach Pep Guardiola.
Messi, the current World Player of the Year, has enjoyed an historic campaign despite Barcelona failing to retain the Spanish league title.
They also lost their Champions League crown after going out to Chelsea in this year’s semi-finals.
Messi, 24, has has two more games to add to his goal tally – an away match at Real Betis before the Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao.

Let The Car Drive Itself

Google gets driving licence for self-drive car

nigerianmailonline.com

Foreign — By Damie 'Laoye on May 8, 2012 12:44 pm

Technology is fast advancing as driver-less cars will soon be a reality after Google gets licence to test America’s first self-driven vehicle.

Google's driver-less Toyota Prius car

The licence was approved in Nevada, United States.
The first car of its kind to hit the highway will be a Toyota Prius modified by search firm Google, which is leading the way in driverless car technology.
Its first drive included a spin down Las Vegas’s famous strip. Other car companies are also seeking self-driven car licences in Nevada.
The car uses video cameras mounted on the roof, radar sensors and a laser range finder to “see” other traffic.
Engineers at Google have previously tested the car on the streets of California, including crossing San Francisco’s Golden Gate bridge.
For those tests, the car remained manned at all times by a trained driver ready to take control if the software failed.
According to software engineer Sebastian Thrun, the car has covered 140,000 miles with no accidents, other than a bump at traffic lights from a car behind.
However, Bruce Breslow, director of Nevada’s Department of Motor Vehicles, says he believes driverless vehicles are the “cars of the future”.
Nevada changed its laws to allow self-driven cars in March. The long-term plan is to license members of the public to drive such cars.
Google’s car has been issued with a red licence plate to make it recognisable. The plate features an infinity sign next to the number 001.
Other states, including California, are planning similar changes.
“The vast majority of vehicle accidents are due to human error,” said California state Senator Alex Padilla, when he introduced the legislation.
“Through the use of computers, sensors and other systems, an autonomous vehicle is capable of analysing the driving environment more quickly and operating the vehicle more safely.”

Battersea Power Station For New Chelsea Stadium

Chelsea bids for new Stadium businessdayonline.com

Battersea power station

Chelsea said it has made an offer to buy the site of Battersea power station.

The Blues want to make the power station their home football stadium.

The club admitted that final decision has not been taken on moving from Stamford Bridge to the new stadium.

The club, have been trying to move away from Stamford Bridge for some years now, despite spending huge amount of money on regular maintenance of Stamford Bridge since 1905.

The world-class stadium will have multiple railway lines, with a capacity of around 60,000 seats.

"Chelsea Football Club can confirm to our fans that we have today submitted an offer, with our property development partner Almacantar, to acquire the 39-acre Battersea power station site."

"Battersea power station is one of London's most famous buildings and has the potential to become one of the most iconic football stadiums in the world."

"Our joint bid was submitted in accordance with the sales process established by the joint administrators for the site. The process could run for a number of months."

"We are not the only interested parties and there is no certainty that we will be successful."

" We also appreciate that we have many significant hurdles to address if we are to build a new stadium on the site, including winning the support of our fans, the CPO shareholders and local Wandsworth residents, as well as securing the approval of Wandsworth council, the Greater London Authority and heritage authorities."

"We must also stress that making an offer for the Battersea power station site does not mean the club has made a definitive decision to leave Stamford Bridge." The club said.

Music Don Jazzy Unveils MAVIN Records

At last! Don Jazzy unveils own record label

On May 7, 2012 ·www.vanguardngr.com  

Don Jazzy has broken the silence over his future by today announcing the launch of his new record label. Mavin Records, a wholly independent label, which will be the new home for former Mo’Hits stalwarts: Wande Coal, Dr. Sid and D’Prince.
The multiple award winning producer also announced that Tiwa Savage would be joining the Mavin family. The signing of Savage, one of Nigeria’s leading vocalists, is seen as a major coup for the budding record label and Don Jazzy promised fans that there are many more exciting faces to be “activated” by the label in the near future.

*Don Jazzy

Following a very public split with former Mo’Hits partner, Dbanj, speculation had been rife about what projects the producer had lined up. Several stories had rumbled about relations between the pair but Don Jazzy revealed that his eyes are focused firmly on the future.
“I know that there are questions unanswered, mysteries unsolved and wounds to heal,” the producer said. “But I would really appreciate if we allow time to heal the wounds for us all instead of digging them up again.”

*Marvin records crew

The founder and CEO of the new label has spent the last three weeks locked in the recording studio along with the fellow “Mavins” as they finalise plans for their debut compilation album, Solar Plexus, released 8^th May. The album has been a collaborative labour of love which has traversed five countries. In the same vein as the previously released Curriculum Vitae by the Mo’Hits All Stars, Solar Plexus will exclusively showcase the musical talents of the Mavin Records crew.
The renowned sound mixer, James ‘LeRock’ Loughrey, was one of several international collaborators used in perfecting the sound of the album and has predicted that the album will be “huge.” Work is also at various stages for all the individual solo albums with release dates to be announced soon.
With the dissolution of Mo’Hits since agreed with D’Banj, Don Jazzy has high ambitions for the new label which he anticipates will soon be “the power house of music in Africa.” He called on all his fans and well-wishers to get behind the new project for what he promises will be a “very exciting journey.”