BlackBox Nigeria

As the world celebrates Boxing Day, BlackBox Nigeria unearths this worthy picture as a gift to our readers. Indeed it is worthwhile to be rich, we mean very rich albeit legally.

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With a combined wealth of over $140 billion, it's no wonder Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and Charlie Munger are grinning from ear to ear

They say a picture paints a thousand words  - this one is worth $140 billion.

Mega rich trio Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and his financial partner Charlie Munger appeared together on US channel CNBC's  Squawk Box where the historic snap was taken.

Bill Gates has a fortune of $76 billion, Buffet $64 billion and Munger a paltry $1.2 billion.

It comes after a similar snap made headlines when the bosses of US companies including Kellogg , Monsanto, PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble came together at a summit organised by supermarket giant Walmart.

On that occasion the staggering total was more than $1,000 billion, although the figure was calculated on the basis of the total capitalisation of their companies and not the addition of their personal fortunes.

A Chinese man who stole hundreds of pieces of ladies' underwear had his secret exposed after an emergency exit ceiling where he had been storing his hoard collapsed, state media reported.

The man, surnamed Tang and in his 30s, admitted to having mental problems since he was young and that he did not know how long he had been obsessed with women's undergarments, reports said.

Police in the city of Yulin said they found more than 2,000 pieces of panties and bras in the roof where he had stuffed his collection.

Residents in the housing complex where Tang lived had complained about the mysterious vanishing of their undergarments.

Tang used a master key for the apartments in the complex to sneak in and steal the underwear when residents were not there, media said this week.

Researchers have found a bacteria more typically encountered in hospital waste which produces the enzyme KPC in several different locations along the Carioca River, which feeds Guanabara Bay where the sailing events of Rio 2016 Summer Olympic will take place.

The bacteria is resistant to antibiotics and can cause urinary, gastrointestinal and pulmonary infections although Rio officials are adamant the risk is "minimal."

But the International Olympic Committee insisted it had been made aware of the problem and was working closely with Rio officials to minimize any potential risks.

The IOC statement, sent out read: "The health and safety of the athletes is our number one priority. Rio has created a task force to monitor this situation and we are being kept fully updated by them.

"We will continue to work with Rio to ensure that the athletes are able to compete safely and in the best conditions possible."

The research is the work of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, considered one of the world's main public health research institutions.

Study coordinator Ana Paula D'Alincourt Carvalho Assef, of the foundation, said in an email to the Associated Press: "There is a risk of contracting diseases, which are not more serious than those caused by other microorganisms. The problem is that in case of infection, it is possible that treatment involves hospitalization.

"Since the super-bacteria are resistant to most modern medications, doctors need to rely on drugs that are rarely used because they are toxic to the organism."

Earlier this year, biologist Mario Moscatelli described the Marina Gloria, which will serve as a base for the sailing competitions, as a "toilet."

While Rio mayor Eduardo Paes admits a planned clean-up will not be completed prior to the Games, state officials have allayed fears over the risk to sailing competitors that take to the water.

In a lengthy statement from the State Environmental Institute, forwarded to CNN, it said: "According to the president of the institute (State Environmental Institute) Isaura Frega the bacterium is not very resistant in the environment, especially in salt water.

"There's no need to panic. The possibility of discovering this bacteria in our beaches is minimal, almost non-existent -- assured Isaura Frega, highlighting that there are no records of people -- contaminated with the bacteria outside of the hospital environment -- being admitted to Rio de Janeiro's public hospitals.

"KPC is a bacteria which loses its potency when it comes into contact with salt water. It's not an aggressive bacteria. It's only resistant to antibiotics. It only represents a risk to those people who have a weak immune system -- explained the specialist."

As for Rio 2016 organizers, they have been in contact both with the government and also the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation.

A spokesman for Rio 2016 told CNN: "We were alerted to a possible presence of KPC-type bacteria in some parts of the Carioca River. Rio 2016 created a task force regarding this matter.

"The group will continue to monitor the matter very closely and discuss with the government and with specialists the solutions to prevent contamination of the water and continue to guarantee the safety of athletes. This issue does not impose any change in our planning for the test events and competition events."

A former Minister of Works, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, has commended the Lagos State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Jimi Ajagbe, and the immediate past Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, for ending their political dispute.

Ogunlewe said this in his Christmas message on Thursday.

Ogunlewe said the reconciliation of the two factions within the Lagos PDP on Christmas Eve was not coincidental, adding that it was an evidence that God is behind the party.

He, therefore, argued that after 16 years of failing to take over Lagos, the PDP would finally win the state next year.

He said, "I want to commend President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice-President Namadi Sambo for intervening in the conflict in the Lagos PDP. I also want to commend Jimi Agbaje and Musiliu Obanikoro for acting maturely and deciding to work together.

"Indeed, the future of this state belongs to the younger ones and we, the elders in the PDP, are happy with the progress made so far. Without peace there cannot be progress. Finally, we can now forge ahead and concentrate on the task at hand.

"The people of Lagos should also show love to one another in this period in the spirit of Christmas."

In a separate statement, Agbaje said Nigerians should seize the opportunity of Christmas to reflect on the values of peaceful coexistence.

In a statement by his Director of Media and Publicity, Mr. Felix Oboagwina, Agbaje said it was significant that the holiday was being used to celebrate Jesus Christ, a man who lived for peace.

"Ours is a nation in the throes of terrorism and insurgency. And we should use this period to reflect on everything we can contribute to achieving peace," Agbaje said.

He also advised Nigerians to spare a thought for Nigerian military personnel constantly paying the supreme price to make Nigeria peaceful and conducive for living.

Mr Jimi Agbaje, The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos on Thursday urged Nigerians to remain committed to the unity of the nation.

Agbaje said that the Christmas season should be used by Christians to re-inforce their love for God, Nigeria and for one another.

"The 2014 Christmas is coming at a time when Nigeria's general elections are at hand.
We must use this period to preach love and eschew violence as we approach the 2015 general elections. Elections are not do or die affair. The message of Christ is love and we must allow love to permeate all our endeavours. This love must not be restricted to Christians alone but must transcend ethnic and religious boundaries" he said.‎

Mr Jimi Agbaje, The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos on Thursday urged Nigerians to remain committed to the unity of the nation.

Agbaje said that the Christmas season should be used by Christians to re-inforce their love for God, Nigeria and for one another.

"The 2014 Christmas is coming at a time when Nigeria's general elections are at hand.
We must use this period to preach love and eschew violence as we approach the 2015 general elections. Elections are not do or die affair. The message of Christ is love and we must allow love to permeate all our endeavours. This love must not be restricted to Christians alone but must transcend ethnic and religious boundaries" he said.‎

Prof. Yemi Osinbajo the Vice-Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, on christmas day, rode on the Lagos State Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) to campaign and woo Nigerians to vote for the presidential candidate of the party, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and APC candidates as a whole in the forthcoming presidential election.

The pastor cum politician via his twitter page, shared the image of his conversation with passengers on the bus, stressing that it was an opportunity for him to articulate the programmes of the APC to Nigeria

Within six hours of sharing the image, it generated over 650 retweets and 100 favourites. Some of his followers applauded the move while others criticized him, arguing that his move was for political gain.‎

A former Minister of State for Education and the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has accused the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, of spending N30bn to fund the presidential campaign of the All Progressives Congress.

Wike explained that the development had made it impossible for the state government to pay workers' salaries, adding that the governor was using state resources to fund the APC with the hope that he would be picked as the running mate to the APC presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari.

The PDP governorship candidate pointed out that Amaechi was being deceived by the leadership of the APC to continue to fund the party, adding that the APC leadership had never been interested in selecting the governor as Buhari's running mate.

Speaking during his thank-you visit to Ikwerre Local Government Area on Thursday, Wike noted that the future of Nigerians was in the PDP and not the APC.

"Do you know why workers' salaries have not been paid? Amaechi spent N30bn in funding the presidential campaign of the APC. They (the APC leadership) allowed him to spend the money and later, they called him mugu (fool).

"They (the APC leadership) said we will not make this 'boy' who does not respect the President (Goodluck Jonathan) the vice president. We should know that our future is in the PDP and not the APC," Wike stressed.

The former minister also decried the statement credited to the APC governorship candidate in the state, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, that he (Peterside) would build on Amaechi legacy.

According to him, some of the governor's actions on the state judiciary, monorail project were not worth continuing as a legacy.

Reacting to Wike's allegation, the state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, said the PDP governorship candidate spoke without fact, even as she challenged him to show any proof that Amaechi was funding the APC.

"It is unbelievable that a man who wants to be the governor of this state can make such an unbelievable statement without any proof. We challenge him (Wike) to show proof that Governor Amaechi spent N30bn to fund the APC campaign."‎