Chile's 8.8 earthquake

PHOTO CREDITS: USATODAY.COM

One of the largest earthquakes ever recorded tore apart houses, bridges and highways in central Chile on Saturday and sent a tsunami racing halfway around the world. Chileans near the epicenter were tossed about as if shaken by a giant, and authorities said at least 214 people were dead.

The magnitude-8.8 quake was felt as far away as Sao Paulo in Brazil — 1,800 miles (2,900 kilometers) to the east. The full extent of damage remained unclear as dozens of aftershocks — one nearly as powerful as Haiti's devastating Jan. 12 earthquake — shuddered across the disaster-prone Andean nation.

At least 214 people were killed, according to Interior Minister Edmundo Perez Yoma, and officials said about 1.5 million homes sustained at least some damage.

President Michelle Bachelet declared a "state of catastrophe" in central Chile but said the government had not asked for assistance from other countries. If it does, President Obama said, the United States "will be there." Around the world, leaders echoed his sentiment.

WORLD'S STRONGEST QUAKES

Here is a list of earthquakes that registered at least magnitude 8.6.

May 22, 1960: A magnitude 9.5 earthquake in southern Chile and ensuing tsunami killed at least 1,716 people.

March 27, 1964: A magnitude 9.2 quake in Prince William Sound, Alaska, and ensuing tsunami killed 128 people.

Dec. 26, 2004: A magnitude 9.1 quake off the Indonesian island of Sumatra triggered a tsunami that killed 226,000 people in 12 countries, including 165,700 in Indonesia and 35,400 in Sri Lanka.

Aug. 13, 1868: A magnitude 9.0 quake in Arica, Peru (now Chile) generated catastrophic tsunamis; more than 25,000 people were killed in South America.

Jan. 26, 1700: A magnitude 9.0 quake shakes Northern California, Oregon, Washington and British Colombia and triggers tsunami that damages villages in Japan.

Nov. 4, 1952: A magnitude 9.0 quake in Kamchatka causes damage but no reported deaths, despite setting off 30-foot waves in Hawaii.

Jan. 31, 1906: A magnitude 8.8 quake off the coast of Ecuador and Colombia generated a tsunami that killed at least 500 people.

Feb. 27, 2010: A magnitude 8.8 quake off the coast of Chile killed a still-undetermined number of people and sends a tsunami across the Pacific.

Nov. 1, 1755: A magnitude 8.7 quake and ensuing tsunami in Lisbon, Portugal killed an estimated 60,000 people and destroyed much of Lisbon.

July 8, 1730: A magnitude 8.7 quake in Valparasio, Chile, killed at least 3,000 people.

Aug. 15, 1950: A magnitude 8.6 earthquake in Assam, Tibet, killed at least 780 people.

Sources: U.S. Geological Survey, Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology and WHO's International Disaster Database

Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau's Profile

Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau was born in 1954 to the family of Alhaji Bala Dambazau and Hajiya Hajara Bala Dambazau. After his primary school education in Zaria, he gained admission into the prestigious Barewa College in the same town in 1970.  On graduation in June 1974, he went to the Nigerian Defence Academy Kaduna as a member of the 17 Regular Combatant Course.  He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant into the Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army in June 1977.

During the course of his military career, he has held numerous command, instructional and staff appointments. Until his appointment as the 17th Chief of Army Staff of the Nigerian Army, an army with over 100 years of history, he was the General Officer Commanding 2 Division Nigerian Army.

As part of his numerous contribution on training, General Dambazau served as the Registrar/Instructor, Nigerian Defence Academy from 1993 - 1999 and later Chief Instructor, at the Support Weapon Wing of the Infantry Centre and School from 1999 - 2001 before becoming  a Directing Staff at the then National War College from 2004 - 2006.  Subsequently, he became the Director, Higher Military Organization and Operations at the same Institution in 2006.  This earned him the highly revered appellation of the Fellow of the War College Dagger (FWCD).

Lieutenant General AB Dambazau has also held several Staff appointments before his appointment as the 17th Chief of Army Staff.  He was a Staff Officer at the Headquarters of the Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police (NACMP) in 1979 before he became an Aide-de-Camp to the then Chief of Army Staff.  He was also a Special Investigator at the Special Investigation Bureau of the NACMP from 1984 - 1985.  Subsequently, he was appointed Military Assistant to the Director Army Training and Operations at the Army Headquarters.  Lieutenant General Dambazau also served as the Principal General Staff Officer to the Honourable Minister of Defence (PGSO-HMOD) in 2006.  In January 2007, he was appointed the Chief of Army Standard and Evaluation (CASE).

Since his commission as an officer, General Dambazau, in addition to the Young Officers' and Surveillance Platoon Commanders' Courses has attended at the then Nigerian Army School of Infantry (NASI) in 1978, he has over the years attended both civil and military courses within and outside Nigeria that earned him several academic qualifications and awards. These includes the United States Military Police School, Fort MacLelan where he earned a Diploma in Military Police Basic Training, Kent State University, Ohio, from 1980 - 1984, for a Bachelors' Degree in Criminal Justice and Masters Degree in International Relations.  He also attended the University of Keele, United Kingdom where he was awarded a Doctorate Degree in Criminology.  He also attended Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College for his Senior Division course from 1991 - 1992. The Chief of Army Staff was also at the Infantry Centre and School, Jaji for the Commanding Officers' Course before proceeding to India's National Defence College, New Delhi in 2003 for his Higher Strategic Military Course.

General Dambazau has an excellent flair for writing cutting across diverse aspect of human endeavours.  In addition to his doctorate thesis, he authored five books as follows:

a.             Military Law Terminologies, Spectrum Books Limited, 1990.

b.             Law and Criminality in Nigeria, University Press, 1994.

c.             Issues in Crime Prevention and Control in Nigeria, Baraka Press, 1996.

d.             Criminology and Criminal Justice, Nigerian Defence Academy Press, 1999.

e.             Criminology and Criminal Justice, Second Edition, Spectrum Books, 2007.

He has also written over eleven published papers on the United Nations, the Media, Human and Drug Trafficking, as well as on Democracy and the Rule of Law among other topics.  A highly versatile senior officer, he is a member of seven national and international professional bodies. A highly decorated senior officer, General Dambazau possesses many military honors and awards, qualifications and commendations.

Source:www.nigerian-army.org

Olusegun Adeniyi, President Yar'Adua's spokesman's, Press Release

ABUJA, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Nigeria's Acting President Goodluck Jonathan will continue to run state affairs while President Umaru Yar'Adua recovers after three months of medical treatment in Saudi Arabia, the presidency said on Wednesday.

"President Yar'Adua wishes to re-assure all Nigerians that on account of their unceasing prayers and by the special grace of God, his health has greatly improved," Yar'Adua's spokesman Olusegun Adeniyi said in a statement.

"However, while the President completes his recuperation, Vice President Jonathan will continue to oversee the affairs of state," the statement said

Statement by US State Department on President Yaradua's Returns

PRESIDENT YAR’ADUA’S RETURN TO NIGERIA

The United States welcomes the news of President Yar’Adua’s return to Nigeria. We hope that his health is sufficient to enable him to fully resume his official duties.  Nigeria needs a strong, healthy, and effective leader to ensure the stability of the country and to manage Nigeria’s many political, economic, and security challenges.  Recent reports, however, continue to suggest that President Yar’Adua’s health remains fragile and that he may still be unable to fulfill the demands of his office.


We hope that President Yar’Adua’s return to Nigeria is not an effort by his senior advisors to upset Nigeria’s stability and create renewed uncertainty in the democratic process. Nigeria is an extraordinarily important country to its friends and partners, and all of those in positions of responsibility should put the health of the President and the best interests of the country and people of Nigeria above personal ambition or gain.  As a nation of 150 million people, Nigeria’s democracy and its continued adherence to constitutional rule should be the highest priority.

Yar’Adua Returns to Nigeria Secretly

President Umaru Yar’Adua arrived Abuja early this morning after three months in Saudi Arabia, where he has been undergoing treatment for a heart condition.

According to a Reuters report , the President left Jeddah International Airport “at 10:22 pm (1922 GMT) alone in a plane and another plane carried Nigerian government envoys.”

The air ambulance carrying the president landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at exactly 1.47am. There was huge  presence of journalists at the airport  and some  vehicles at the airport that had dignitaries who were there to receive the President drove to the aircraft.
Among the vehicles was a new Ford E-250 intensive care ambulance, which is believed to have conveyed him to the Presidential Villa. The second aircraft, a presidential jet, landed at 1.56am and taxied to the same spot as the first one.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Adamu Aliero, and other top government functioneries were at the airport to receive him. There was a sort of secrecy to his return and condition of health, fuelling fears that he may not be in sound health to resume immediately.

Before his arrival, about 200 soldiers and armed policemen had been deployed in the airport’s presidential wing. The  soldiers were deployed in some streets in the FCT before the aircraft landed.
Aviation workers on shift duty at the presidential lounge were asked to leave the area.
A military truck was sighted around 11.30pm dropping soldiers at various spots, including Bolingo Hotel junction along Olusegun Obasanjo Way in Area 10.

Attempts by journalists to get to the presidential lounge were rebuffed by the soldiers. They ordered the newsmen to leave the area.

The lights went off around 1.14am, as authorities of the airport switched from public power supply to generator. This was to avoid any embarrassment from an unexpected power outage.
Soldiers cordoned off the route from the airport to the city as the presidential convoy made its way into the FCT. Those who drove through the route before the President arrived were forced to vacate the route hurriedly.

Source:www.vanguardngr.com

George Bush tells Jonathan, "You have world support"

By Elizabeth Archibong

Nigeria’s Acting President, Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday evening in Abuja secured the support of the former President of the United States, George Bush who assured him of the world’s support in making his job a success. Mr. Bush and his entourage were in Nigeria for the ThisDay Nigeria at 50 awards.

Mr Bush who visited Mr Jonathan at his Aguda House official residence in the presidential villa, congratulated his host, noting that though the circumstances that brought Mr Jonathan to office were unexpected, there is every chance that the Acting president will succeed. “Sometimes in life, the unexpected happens,” he said.

The visit followed Saturday’s visit to Mr Jonathan by former prime minister of the United Kingdom, Tony Blair who had praised Mr. Jonathan for ‘wisely steering the ship of state amidst turbulence.’ At a closed door meeting later, Mr Blair had also promised the Acting President of UK support in resolving the Niger Delta crisis and the Power problems in the country.

In his message, Mr Bush said, “We wish you all the best, even though we know it is not an easy job. With God’s grace and the support of your team, you will succeed.”

The Acting President assured his guests about the commitment of the Federal Government to conduct a free and fair election in Nigeria in 2011. He said his government will work towards ensuring that the electoral process is transparent and reflects the wishes of the Nigerian people.

“I can assure you that come 2011, Nigeria’s elections will be credible. We will do everything possible to overhaul the electoral process and leave a lasting legacy in our political history,” he said.

We are not terrorists

Mr Jonathan also used the occasion to call on the American government to consider de-listing Nigeria from countries of interest in the global war against terrorism.

Incidentally, Mr Bush launched the global war on terror during his time as president of the United States of America.

“Terrorism is alien to Nigeria,” Mr Jonathan said. “Nigeria and US are strategic partners for global peace and development.” He also thanked the US government for its concern over the health of President Umaru Yar’Adua who is currently undergoing treatment in a Saudi hospital.

Mr Bush was accompanied on the trip by former US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice and US Ambassador to Nigeria, Robin Sanders. On the Nigerian side were the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ojo Maduekwe and his solid minerals counterpart, Diezeani Allison Maduekwe.

Southern opposition

The presidency at the weekend, went on the offensive by accusing a former south-south governor as the arrowhead of those opposed to Mr Jonathan’s ascension to the office of Acting President.

The Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Acting President, Ima Niboro said the former governor, whom he did not name, was unhappy with the transfer of power to Mr Jonathan and has therefore joined other anti-Jonathan forces to rubbish the image of the Acting President.

“The Presidency is aware that they have set aside a huge war chest in billions of naira to bring the Jonathan Acting Presidency to disrepute by any means possible,” he said, adding that those behind the planned attack had stored up sensitive documents collated from financial transactions of the Acting President from his days as the governor of Bayelsa State till date, and would be releasing the documents to the media on weekly basis.

Source:www.234next.com/

Universities in Ohio

Universities

1  The Ohio State University

2  Bowling Green State University

3  University of Cincinnati

4  Case Western Reserve University

5  Kent State University

6  Ohio University

7  University of Akron

8  Miami University

9  Wright State University

10  University of Toledo

11  Cleveland State University

12  University of Dayton

13  Oberlin College

14  Youngstown State University

15  Xavier University

16  The College of Wooster

17  Ashland University

18  Cleveland Institute of Art

19  Kenyon College

20  Bluffton University

21  Cedarville University

22  Mount Union College

23  Denison University

24  Franklin University

25  John Carroll University

26  Baldwin-Wallace College

27  Capital University

28  Marietta College

29  Hiram College

30  The University of Findlay

31  Ohio Northern University

32  Muskingum College

33  Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy

34  College of Mount St. Joseph

35  Tiffin University

36  Wittenberg University

37  Lake Erie College

38  Antioch University

39  Ohio Wesleyan University

40  Franciscan University of Steubenville

41  Otterbein College

  Shawnee State University

Malone University

Columbus College of Art and Design

45  Ohio Dominican University

46  Central State University

47  Walsh University

48  Mount Carmel College of Nursing

49  Heidelberg University

50  Ursuline College

51  Notre Dame College

52  Lourdes College

53  Union Institute & University

54  Air Force Institute of Technology

55  Defiance College

56  Cleveland Institute of Music

57  Wilberforce University

58  Art Academy of Cincinnati

59  The Ohio State University at Mansfield

60  The Ohio State University at Lima

61  Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine

62  Ohio University Lancaster

63  Ohio University-Chillicothe

64  Miami University Hamilton

65  Miami University Middletown

66  Mount Vernon Nazarene University

67  Antioch University McGregor

68  Urbana University

69  Kettering College of Medical Arts

70  Ohio University Zanesville

71  The Ohio State University at Newark

72  Ohio University Eastern Campus

73  Ohio University Southern

74  Rosedale Bible College

75  God's Bible School and College

76  Tri-State Bible College

77  DeVry University-Columbus

78  The Ohio State University at Marion

Universities in Pennsylvania

Universities                                                                          

1 University of Pennsylvania                                                

2 Penn State University                                                      

3 Carnegie Mellon University                                                

4 University of Pittsburgh                                                       

5 Drexel University                                                               

6 Temple University                                                               

7 Bryn Mawr College                                                          

8 Swarthmore College                                                           

9 Indiana University of Pennsylvania                                      

10 Bucknell University                                                         

11 Dickinson College                                                             

12 Haverford College                                                          

13  Saint Joseph's University                                                  

14  Elizabethtown College                                                    

15  Penn State College of Medicine                                      

16  University of the Sciences in Philadelphia              

17  Drexel University College of Medicine                              

18  Penn State University's Dickinson School of Law        

19  Lehigh University                                                             

20  Villanova University                                                         

21  California University of Pennsylvania                                

22  Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania                            

23  Lebanon Valley College                                                   

24  Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania                          

25  Seton Hill University                                                       

26  West Chester University of Pennsylvania                          

27  Kutztown University of Pennsylvania                                 

28  Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania                            

29  Messiah College                                                               

30  Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania                        

31  La Salle University                                                            

32 Franklin & Marshall College                                                

33  Duquesne University                                                      

34  Susquehanna University                                                  

35  Millersville University of Pennsylvania                              

36  Lafayette College                                                           

37  Gettysburg College                                                         

38  Allegheny College                                                          

39  Thomas Jefferson University                                          

40  Philadelphia University                                                    

41  Moravian College                                                           

42  Widener University                                                        

43  Juniata College                                                               

44  University of Scranton                                                     

45  Clarion University of Pennsylvania                                       

46  Mansfield University of Pennsylvania                                     

47  Pennsylvania College of Technology                                       

48  Muhlenberg College                                                             

49  East Stroudsburg University                                                    

50  Mercyhurst College                                                                 

51  Wilkes University    Wilkes                                                     

52  Arcadia University                                                               

53  Eastern University                                                                   

54  Edinboro University of Pennsylvania                                         

55  York College of Pennsylvania                                                  

56  King's College                                                                         

57  Grove City college                                                                 

58  Lincoln University                                                                     

59  Saint Vincent College                                                              

60  Ursinus College                                                                       

61  DeSales University                                                                  

62  Gannon University                                                               

63  Point Park University                                                            

64  Robert Morris University                                                        

65  College Misericordia                                                              

66  Chatham University                                                                   

67  Immaculata University                                                              

68  Neumann University                                                                 

69  Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine                           

70  The University of the Arts                                                       

71  Washington & Jefferson College                                              

72  Geneva College                                                                        

73  Lycoming College                                                                    

74  Albright College                                                                        

75  Westminster College                                                                

76  Marywood University                                                              

77  Cabrini College                                                                       

78  Alvernia University                                                              

79  Philadelphia Biblical University                                                 

80  Wilson College                                                                     

81  Cedar Crest College                                                            

82  Saint Francis University                                                          

83  Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine                            

84  Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts                                   

85  Cheyney University of Pennsylvania                                        

86  Mount Aloysius College                                                     

87  Keystone College                                                                  

88  Delaware Valley College                                                        

89  Chestnut Hill College                                                              

90  The American College                                                           

91  Waynesburg University                                                           

92  University of Pittsburgh                                                         

93  Thiel College                                                                          

94  Salus University                                                                     

95  Gwynedd-Mercy College                                                      

96  Peirce College                                                                       

97  The Curtis Institute of Music                                                

98  Carlow University                                                               

99  La Roche College                                                               

100  Rosemont College                                                                 

101  Penn State Erie, The Behrend College                                

102  Central Pennsylvania College                                                  

103  Moore College of Art & Design                                             

104  Pennsylvania College of Art and Design                                 

105  Bryn Athyn College                                                               

106  Penn State Harrisburg                                                           

107  Penn State Abington                                                        

108  Penn State                                                                                                                                

109  Penn State Berks                                                                

110  Penn State Schuylkill                                                            

111  Penn State Lehigh Valley                                                      

112  University of Pittsburgh at Bradford                                      

113  University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg                                   

114  The Art Institute of Philadelphia                                             

115  Baptist Bible College and Seminary                                         

116  Holy Family University                                                            

117  Lancaster Bible College & Graduate School                                

118  Valley Forge Christian College                                                   

119  Gratz College                                                         

120  Pennsylvania Institute of Technology                       

121  WON Institute of Graduate Studies                     

122  Penn State Brandywine                                                               

123  Penn State Great Valley School of Graduate Professional Studies