News Extra
By Rachel Ogbu
Monday, May 12, 2008
Britain is a rude Country
Britain is one of the rudest countries in the world. A survey recently conducted has shown that 75 percent of the 3,000 people whose views were sought think manners should be taught in British schools.
Another section believes bad manners are catalysts for much of the anti-social behaviour in Britain today. The poll conducted by ITV found spitting and swearing as the most offensive behaviours by Britons while queue jumping and not saying "please" or "thank you" are the other main gripes.
More than 90 percent of the respondents believe parents are failing to ensure their children learn proper manners and that bad behaviour of celebrities and footballers are setting a poor example for impressionable youngsters. Diana Mather, etiquette coach blamed the situation on increasing lack of respect for the British authority by citizens. "I suppose its part of the breakdown in society - the fact that we stopped having respect for figures in authority partly because those in authority didn't command it," she said on "Tonight Show with Trevor McDonald," which commissioned the survey.
Esther Rantzen, the head of the Campaign for Courtesy, said lack of discipline is also to blame. "I think my generation has a lot to answer for because I think the youth culture in the 60s and early 70s threw out every rule book and thought it was really clever to use four letter words. But I think things should go back, not to the old deference, not to grovelling, not to any of that but just to feeling respect because I think that would make everyone's life more pleasant," she said.
Men who flirt publicly are in Trouble
A governor in northern Saudi Arabia has ordered the police to forcefully shave the hair of men who flirt with women in public places.
Prince Fahd bin Badr, governor of the northern Al-Jof region, ordered police to carry out the punishment after seeing a group of men with long hair pestering female students as they left school in the northern al-Qurayat province.
While addressing a gathering at his palace, the prince instructed police to apply the punishment to all youths guilty of flirting, including "the sons of senior military and civil officials." "The decision doesn't include men who spend their free time in public places without hurting anyone," said the prince.
Saudi Arabia has long imposed a strict Islamic lifestyle in which men and women are segregated in public. The Commission enforces that lifestyle for the promotion of virtue and the prevention of vice.
Deadly Virus Kills 21 in China
A deadly virus is spreading rapidly in eastern China, killing at least 21 children and infecting nearly 3,000.
The virus known as "Enterovirus 71" began spreading in Fuyang in the eastern province of Anhui in early March but authorities only made it public two weeks ago, saying there had been 789 cases and by May 1, the number had risen to 2,946.
Xinhua News Agency said enteroviruses are spread mostly through contact with infected blisters or faeces and can cause high fever, paralysis and swelling of the brain or its lining. There are no vaccines or antiviral agents available to treat or prevent the virus.
The delay in reporting the virus to the public has triggered heated discussion and criticism in the Chinese media, which said local government officials, should be sacked.
But the health ministry has come to the defence of the Fuyang government, saying the belated reporting was because medical teams were trying to work out what the illness was.
Officials have said that almost all of those infected were children under the age of six and most were under two. A total of 879 children were still in hospital for treatment, with nine in critical condition, while 849 have fully recovered.
Health officials said people could take simple hygiene steps to prevent the spread of the virus.
Edokpayi gets N400, 000 annually for life
Emmanuel Edokpayi, veteran actor, filmmaker and director had a stroke in 2004. A cerebrovascular accident almost led to his death. Although, he survived it, the incidence left a bitter taste and series of sad experiences that touched the heart of Andrien Gbinigie, chairman of Atlantic Overseas and patron of the Movie Reporters Guild of Nigeria, MORGON, along with members of the guild who recently presented a check of N400, 000 to him. This is the first of financial assistance that would be given annually to Edokpayi for the rest of his life.
According to Gbinigie, the money was to encourage him and ensure that his talents continue to blossom. "Who knows, he might just become Nigeria's answer to Steve Wonder in Nollywood," he said.
The gesture was a MORGON initiative powered by Atlantic Overseas. Both bodies have invited well-meaning corporate bodies to join in the effort to ensure that Edokpayi's talent and others like him would continue to be harnessed.
Edokpayi, who was present with his wife, was overwhelmed by the gesture of MORGON. "I must say that this event, and this gift, is a source of joy to me because this cheque of N400,000; can you imagine that? N400,000 will not only give me a tremendous boost in continuing my life's assignment but will also confirm in case I ever doubted it that I was and I'm still in the right profession. And I want to thank you for it," he said.
Before the emergence of Nollywood, Edokpayi showcased his acting prowess in some indigenous movies like 'Things Fall Apart' and 'When the Sun Sets'. He began his career with the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, Benin, where he worked as a producer, director and actor.
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