Money Morals: My son works for me but he's not pulling his weight. Should I sack him?

n our Money Morals series we invite readers to help solve a dilemma. This week if you employ a member of family and they aren't working hard enough, should you get rid of them?
I run a small manufacturing business and my 35-year-old son has been working for me for the past six years, unfortunately after a bright start he has stopped pulling his weight.
I'd be looking to get rid of any other member of staff but I want my son to eventually take over the business.

You're fired: Lord Alan Sugar, the star of BBC's The Apprentice, is famous for his sacking of contestants. His sons successfully work for family-connected businesses.

He had a handful of jobs after university but nothing serious and hadn't really found a career, so he asked me if I would consider taking him on in the family business.
I said yes but that he wasn't getting a plum job and that he would initially have to start near the bottom and work his way up.
He took this in good spirits and worked quite hard when I first took him on. He is clever, gets on well with people and understands the business, so I promoted him a couple of times.
He certainly climbed the ladder quicker he would otherwise have done, but I am 63 and ultimately I want the business to stay in the family and would like to retire or take a step back at some point before I am 70.
That meant I was delighted when he showed an interest and ideally want to get him to the point where he is my deputy and can spend a good few years working along side me at a high level.
Unfortunately, over the past 18 months or so, he has stopped working hard and despite some cajoling from me he has completely failed to pull his socks up.
If this was anyone else I would be looking to replace them. Ideally, I want a family member to run the business but not if it is going to prove to be its downfall.
What should I do persevere with my plan, or sack my own son?

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Become an entrepreneur by Christmas: Five quick-start ways to make some money in a month

Could Christmas provide you with the excuse you need to get into gear and line your pockets with some extra cash?
The festive season seems to whip most of the population into a spending frenzy. So whatever your reason - whether it be to bring in some much-needed pounds, or kick start a business dream, now could be the ideal time to get your (ice) skates on with a quick-start money making plan.
Below are some ideas that require very little start-up capital and minimal equipment, but have the potential for a fast cash turnaround.

Sell your stuff: plenty of people are on the lookout for spending opportunities at Christmas markets

Get a market stall

Christmas ain’t Christmas without a visit to your local fair or market to sample some mulled wine and mince pies as you browse the craft stalls.
If you have a crafty skill, from jewellery making to designing T-towels, this can be a great time to get your product out there.
Plus, personalised presents are bang on trend this Christmas - online retailer Not On The High Street has a whole section dedicated to businesses offering such a service.
This could also help you to draw in the punters at a market by adding a personal touch to the buying process. Hot sellers include named products, such as a baby's name's first Christmas.
The festive season is also a great time for wannabe foodie start-ups. Make some mince pies, Christmas cakes, preserves or even put together a few hampers. And, if you don't have a craft yourself, you could sell craft ales instead - or even local wines.
The key thing to think about with a market stall is stock - it can be a tough balancing act but try not to over or under order, or you'll end up losing money instead of making it.
Many stallholders also make the mistake of selling things that require far too much work and don’t necessarily give back the financial return for all the time spent on them. Try to simplify things a little while maintaining that special something and making decent margins. Don't be afraid to cut prices a little if things are selling slowly.
Set-up costs are minimal and include paying a small fee for your stall and buying public liability insurance (usually cover needs to be for a minimum of £5m). Depending on the location, you may also have to buy a market licence.
Traders selling food are required to be registered with their Local Authority’s Environmental Health Department.
Read this is Money's guide to setting up a market stall for details and advice.
It's easy to get involved in a Christmas fair. Christmasmarkets.com can help you connect with its variety of their market organiser partners, many of which are still actively looking for quality traders and suppliers for 2013 Christmas Market stalls.
According to the site: 'Despite the challenging economic climate, the demand for visiting, trading at, or setting up new Christmas Markets does not show any sign of slowing down in 2013. We are already receiving enquiries from traders and suppliers interested in participating at Christmas Markets, whether in the UK or overseas.'
Local authorities can also help. Wakefield Council, for example, is currently on the look-out for festive market traders. Email at marketshq@wakefield.gov.uk for more information.

Christmas tipple: No-one wants to run out of supplies at a festive party

Sell stuff on eBay

You'd be hard pressed to find an easier platform, with a wider customer base than eBay to get yourself set up and making money.
Millions of pounds get spent on Christmas decorations every year - and presents, and gadgets. And millions more get spent after Christmas, thanks to a booming market for unwanted gifts.
The biggest challenge will be to find a wholesaler to pick up discounted stock so that you can make a profit.
After that it's plain sailing - although there are some tips you'll need to take on board to help you stand out from the crowd.

eBay: A gateway to thousands of potential sales

How does it work?

• Make sure your item is legal and OK to sell on eBay (read eBay's rules for sellers).
• Decide how your listing should work (such as auction-style, or fixed price format).
• Search for items similar to yours to get listing category and price ideas. Understand your market by checking out the competition regularly to see what they do differently and what you could improve on. If your competitor’s postage costs are high, undercut them.
• Work out postage for your item - remember, 42 per cent of shoppers (online, not only eBay) have abandoned their purchase due to delivery dates or costs. Fast and free shipping is amongst the top factors influencing online shopping, and around half of sales on eBay are with free delivery.
• Take photos of your item.
• Create your listing. Market your items well – eBay offers a great shop window for your business, so make the most of it. Use clear photos, detailed descriptions and be honest about any faults.  Put yourself in the buyer’s shoes and make sure there are no surprises in store. Your feedback and Detailed Seller Ratings reflect your commitment to being a great seller.
• Click 'sell' at the top of most eBay pages and sign in. Select a category by searching, browsing, or using a previous category selection and complete the listing form. Read tips on listing here.
• Monitor your listing - check in at My eBay to see how bidding is going and answer all questions you receive from potential buyers using eBay Messages.
• After the sale, wrap up with your buyer. Your buyer can click 'pay now' to pay with PayPal and give you their address for postage. You can also send the buyer an invoice. Once you've been paid, post the item as soon as you can using the method you specified in your listing, and let the buyer know the item's on its way. Finally, leave feedback for your buyer.

Fees depend on the service.
Although technically you don’t need to have a feedback history to sell on eBay, as you build it up, you build trust, which then helps drive your sales and brand on eBay. You get feedback from each successful transaction, but it could be worth buying a few things before selling any products to boost your feedback history.
Don't forget, the beauty of the online marketplace is your ability to be flexible and dynamic, so don’t be afraid of change. eBay is a great place for diversification – you can sell hard drives along with hosepipes without damaging your reputation. The ability to move fast, spot a trend and milk it marks out the winners from the losers.
Read this independent blog, Tamebay.com for excellent advice on selling online.

Rent out a room

It is easy to dip a toe into the hospitality industry via websites like Airbnb or Wimdu.
Increasing numbers of these sites are springing up, essentially allowing you to rent out your house or flat while you're staying with family over Christmas or on holiday.

Cosy: The nicer the room, the more rent you can charge

If you're happy to share your home during the festive season, you can even just let out a spare room.
Alternatively, you could draw up a plan to let a room in the New Year and aim to get someone signed up by Christmas for it.
These websites are designed for those who are new to lettings or only want to let their home for a few weeks a year, although there are some professional bed and breakfasts that advertise through the sites.
They make their money by allowing you to list your house, or space, for free, and take a percentage from each booking. Homeowners are insured against any accidental damage caused by people staying in their property, but will need to look into tax obligations themselves.
Read This is Money's guide for more information.
Rent a room scheme
The Rent a Room Scheme lets you earn up to £4,250 per year tax-free from letting out furnished accommodation in your home. This is per property rather than per owner, so a husband and wife who joint own a home can't double it to £9,500.
The tax exemption is automatic if you earn less than the (£4,250) threshold renting out the room - meaning you don’t need to do anything.

You could even find someone that only wants to rent during the week - giving you a bit of extra space during weekends.
Interested? Read these tips from lodger service mondaytofriday.com to help you rent out your room as soon as possible:

Charge a fair price

Check out the prices of rooms in your local area. There is no need to undercut as your lodger is paying for the convenience of a comfortable home-from-home but make sure you’re in the right ballpark.

List attractive qualities and local amenities

If you live right next to the local shop and the train station make sure to list these in your description. If you spend your weekend baking and there is the possibility of leftovers be sure to mention this too.
Make it comfortable
As your lodger is staying during the working week they’ll want a comfortable room and a good night’s sleep so this isn’t the time to make use of a lumpy mattress or your old sheets. A good quality light for reading and writing plus hanging space and effective curtains are home comforts a professional lodger will expect.
Clean and clear space
You might like the bargain vase from the local car boot sale but your lodger would probably prefer the clear space to leave a few belongings so move any knick-knacks elsewhere. Ensure the room is spotlessly clean - take extra care to dust round the edges.

Wireless broadband

Wireless broadband is one of many qualities separating your room from the local B&B, so make sure the router reaches and the connection is reliable.

Show photos

Your advert will receive very little, if any, response if you don’t post photos of the room. The reason good estate agents spend so much on photography is the visual medium sells!

Sell your skills online

Businesses are looking for freelancers to undertake all sorts of jobs, such as logo design, marketing, PR, social media and writing articles, as well as sales and telemarketing. Translation is also another popular job, as are technical skills such as ecommerce, app building, website design and programming.

Design an app: Follow in the footsteps of design studio Hide & Seek

If you have skills in these areas - or in fact any skills at all, it might be worth thinking about becoming a freelancer.

A recent survey undertaken by Freelancer.co.uk the UK's largest online jobs marketplace, showed that more people hope to pay for Christmas this year by moonlighting in their spare time - in the last quarter, businesses posted more than a quarter of a million jobs on the site.

Director Bill Little explained: 'As Christmas approaches even more people are going online to find extra work and even more jobs are available as businesses try to take advantage of the extra spending this festive season.'

It's easy to sell your skills on ready-made freelancer platforms, for example Freelancer.co.uk or PeopleperHour.com
All you need to do is sign up, write a profile,and then search for jobs.
All freelancers on the site are reviewed with a star rating based on their performance, so you can build up a good reputation. You can also create a portfolio of work. When you are hired a freelancer, the business pays money into an escrow account, guaranteeing you will get paid straight away after the work is finished.

Here are some top tips on standing out from the crowd from Bill Little:
Build a good reputation

Upload any previous work and references you have undertaken. Take time to write your profile, ensuring you write about how experienced you are and what skills you have. The more information you can provide, the more likely you are to convince an employer that you are right for them. When you get work, ensure you communicate effectively and in a timely fashion, and above all else, do the work to a high standard and on time.

Stand out from the crowd

When you bid on a job, you will have the chance to write to the employer about why you can do the job. Ensure you tell them in detail about your skills, your experience and attitude, pointing out any work experience in the area. Make sure you bid realistically - don't bid too low and don't bid too high.

What should you charge?
The employer will often set a budget either for the whole job or an hourly rate between two figures. It is best to bid in the middle of the range. If you think the employer's budget is too low, set your bid higher. Low bids don't always win, as it is often about experience and skills as well. You might have to bid on a few jobs in order to get the handle of bidding, but once you get your first job, you'll be in a great position to get lots more work.

Provide 24 hour festive cheer and help

December diaries are quickly filled with parties, drinks and more parties.
But what if the supplies dry up before home time, the host hasn't done enough shopping, or people simply want things delivering to their door? This is where you can come in.
Setting up a quick local home delivery business is easy. You can buy supplies for people and charge them a small fee. Doing someone's Christmas shopping, delivering last minute supplies, or even staying in for them for deliveries or collecting parcels is a helping hand that can make money.
Also think of other things people need help with from catering to waitressing or even their pets looking after or dogs walking over Christmas. Market yourself as a round-the-clock helping hand.
Promote yourself on local websites, list your services on skill-sharing sites like Task Pandas, and in local shops and community areas, such as school notices. Set up a quick website and make sure your prices are reasonable but enough to make you money.
Alcohol delivery services appeal to customers organising parties or social events at home. Those planning a private shindig without their own transport may also use a delivery service to avoid having to carry bottles home or on public transport.
But you will need a licence to sell alcohol and this will take time to get - so a starting up before Christmas may be unrealistic.
UK licensing laws allow an alcohol and cigarette delivery service to operate 24 hours a day, and it's a growing sector. New services are continually being set up, although there are still gaps in the market for 24 hour, rather than just late-night, businesses. Check to see if there's a competitor based near you as this market can quickly become over saturated.
Demand for a delivery service is usually highest at weekends and at night when pubs and bars are shut, and experiences a surge during the festive season.
You'll obviously need to have a car (or van) to drop off goods, as well as a full drivers license. Costs include fuel, road tax and maintenance, so it's probably worth having a minimum order policy and delivery charge. The Licensing Act 2003 states that those supplying alcohol, including delivery drivers, must be over 18 years of age.
Delivery services are required by law to ensure their customers are aged over 18 by checking identification such as driving licences or passports.
You will also have to follow rules that apply to those selling alcohol to consumers. You must hold a personal licence and, depending on where you store your stock, you may need a premises licence. Both can be obtained from your local authority.
Watch out - several local councils in the UK have recently blocked or refused to grant licences for an alcohol delivery service due to policing or health concerns.
If your application is successful, get yourself registered on this 24-hour delivery website.

Footballer's wife sparks outrage in Norway after posting picture of her perfect flat stomach just four days after giving birth

Norwegian footballer's wife Caroline Berg Eriksen has sparked outrage after posting a picture of her  washboard stomach on the internet - just four days after giving birth.
The prolific fitness blogger - who writes under the name 'Fotballfrue' or The Footballer's Wife - posted a selfie to her Instagram profile of her posing in front of a mirror in her underwear.
Her washboard stomach, complete with six-pack, and toned thighs can be seen in the image.

Selfie: WAG Caroline Berg Eriksen posted this image of her flat stomach on Instagram, four days after she gave birth

New mother: Caroline Berg Eriksen, pictured with her baby daughter this week, has provoked outrage among the blogging community with the post

The blogger gave birth to her daughter Neilia on Monday morning.
Posting on Instagram, she said: 'I gave birth to the most beautiful baby girl yesterday, 10 minutes past 9 in the morning Her name is Nelia and she is perfect.'
Mrs Berg Eriksen, who is married to Premier League player Lars-Kristian Eriksen has sparked outrage in the Norwegian media with the post - with one blogger slamming the move as 'wildly provocative.' 
Writing online, writer Suzanne Aabel said she couldn't be sure if Mrs Ber Eriksen even 'belonged to the same species'.


She said: 'In my eyes, this picture is wildly provocative.
'Not just because I'm the chubby girl who's envious of her petite figure, but because I began to despise my own body when I was about twelve.'
Commenting on the post, one writer Heidi said: 'Is it really necessary to post a halvnakent picture of themselves?! It's just to show off, thinking's not much on how that image can affect readers.'
Commenting on the photo on Instagram, one user laurajanewilkes said, 'Can she look like this 4 days after???'

Pregnancy: The blogger, who is married to footballer Lars-Kristian Eriksen, is well known in Norway as a health and fitness writer

Mrs Berg Eriksen replied to her critics on Facebook, saying: 'I let out the picture because I'm proud of myself and my body for something as tough as a pregnancy / birth, and I think all mothers, regardless of the body shall be.'

Happy couple: The blogger is married to Norwegian Premier League player Lars-Kristian Eriksen, pictured

The blogger was also backed by Gro Nylander, head of the women's clinic at the Norwegian National Hospital.
According to the Local, she said: 'I don't think we should bully The Footballer's Wife. 'Life is unfair, some people have flat stomachs while others have pouts.'
The doctor added that new mothers  must understand that every body responded differently to pregnancy and that is was not productive to compare to other women.
'The most imporant thing is to be kind to your body. It's a positive thing to have a few extra kilos on your body after birth,' she said.
Mrs Berg Eriksen studied journalism at the Norwegian School of Creative Studies before becoming a fitness and health blogger.
She lives in rural Norway with husband Lars-Kristian Eriksen and Hugo her chihuahua.
Lars-Kristian Eriksen plays for Odd Grenland in the Norwegian Premier League.
He has played 19 games for Norway under 21s national football team.

Karrueche Tran breaks down in tears after surprising Chris Brown in rehab with a home-cooked meal on Thanksgiving

Chris Brown's girlfriend took a full Thanksgiving dinner to him in rehab.

The Fine China singer, 24, is currently undergoing a court ordered 90-day stint at a live-in rehabilitation centre to focus on his anger issues but Karrueche Tran pulled out all the stops to ensure he had a good Thanksgiving.
A source told Hollywoodlife.com: 'She made him everything.

Happy Turkey Day! Karrueche Tran, left, reportedly cooked an entire home-cooked Thanksgiving meal for Chris Brown, right, who is currently in rehab

'She brought the boy a home-cooked turkey, yams, cranberry stuffing, black-eyed peas - the works.'

The meal was a big hit with the controversial star, moving him to tell her how much she means to him.
The source added: 'He was thankful and real receptive to her. He told her, "Babe, I'm thankful for everything that is you. Thanks for looking after me and I love you."'

Attitude of gratitude: Chris Brown was reportedly very receptive of the kind offer and profused thanked the woman he 'loves'

Chris' kind words had a huge effect on Karrueche, who reportedly broke down in tears when he said how much she meant to him.
The insider said: 'She was completely moved by what he said. She said she couldn't stop crying and that her hands were shaking.'
Karrueche tweeted a picture of the two on Thursday, as well, saying: 'Happy Turkey Day.'

Shocking response: Chris' kind words had a huge effect on Karrueche, who reportedly broke down in tears when he said how much she meant to him

Chris is also being supported through his rehab stint by his mother, Joyce Hawkins, who according to reports stopped talking to him after he threw a rock at her car window, but recently broke her Twitter silence.
She posted: 'MY ANGEL WITH BROKEN WINGS GOD LOVE YOU SO MUCH AND I DO AS WELL.'
Chris is expected to remain in rehab until the new year.

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Does prayer help us resist temptation? Talking to God boosts self-control and emotional stability, claims study

Praying helps people stay in control of their emotions and behaviour, according to a new study.
People turn to prayer 'as a coping response to the high demands in life' and are rewarded with increased strength and ability to resist temptation, researchers said.
Previous findings have shown that when people try hard to control their emotions and thoughts, the risk of aggressive outbursts and binge drinking or eating rises.

Moment of reflection: People turn to prayer 'as a coping response to the high demands in life' and are rewarded with increased strength and ability to resist temptation, researchers said

BELIEVING IN GOD COULD HELP TREAT DEPRESSION TOO...

Belief in God may improve treatment for those suffering with depression, a study published earlier year found.
Faith in a higher being was found to significantly improve treatment for people suffering with a psychiatric illness, according to research carried out by McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts.
Researchers followed 159 patients over the course of a year at the Behavioral Health Partial Hospital program to investigate the relationship between a patient's level of belief in God, expectations for treatment and actual treatment outcomes.
Each participant was asked to gauge their belief in God as well as their expectations for treatment outcome on a five-point scale.
Researchers found that patients with 'no' or only 'slight' belief in God were twice as likely not to respond to treatment than patients with higher levels of belief.
And more than 30 per cent of patients claiming no specific religious affiliation still saw the same benefits in treatment if their belief in God was rated as moderately or very high.

But the latest study, by German psychologists at Saarland University and the University of Mannheim, found that praying helps people maintain self-control.
'A brief period of personal prayer buffered the self-control depletion effect', wrote the team, whose findings are published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology online.

 

'These results are consistent with and contribute to a growing body of work attesting to the beneficial effects of praying on self-control.'
Praying has already been linked in the past to reduced levels of infidelity and alcohol consumption.
The German authors recruited 79 people, of whom 41 were Christian, 14 atheists, 10 agnostic and 14 belonged to other religions.
Participants were each left alone for five minutes and asked to either pray or think freely about one thing as intensely as possible.
Next they all watched a funny film clips with half told to react normally and half required to try to suppress their emotions and control their facial reactions.
Finally, they took part in Stroop tests, where words describing colours appear in different coloured inks, such as the word blue written in red ink.

Previous findings have shown that when people try hard to control their emotions and thoughts, the risk of aggressive outbursts and binge drinking or eating rises

Participants must respond to the ink colour, not the written word, which requires self-control as our instinct is to read the word in front of us.
Those who thought freely in the first part of the test and then tried to suppress their emotions during the film clips were found to struggle with the Stroop task.
But this was not the case for participants who prayed at the start of the study - showing they still had high levels of self-control at the end.
The authors also found those who first prayed had tried just as hard to suppress emotions during the film clips 'but did not become depleted'.

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Cannibal cop 'killed and ATE a man he met on "exotic meat" website

This German police worker, known only Detlev G, has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a man who fantasised about being eaten by a cannibal

A German police worker has been charged with murdering and chopping up a man he met on a cannibal website who had long fantasised about being killed and eaten.
The suspect, known only as Detlev G, is said to have been 'obsessed' with cannibalism and met the 59-year-old man from Hanover on the fetishist website.
Police say the victim was tortured, killed and dismembered and body parts were found buried in the garden of Detlev's home in the eastern Ore Mountains, near Dresden. 
The handwriting and document analysis specialist was arrested on Wednesday at his workplace, the Criminal Technical Institute in the eastern city of Dresden, authorities said.
He told investigators that he fatally stabbed the victim in the throat on November 4, hours after the two met in person for the first time.
The 55-year-old said he then chopped up the body into multiple pieces.
The suspect pointed officers to a number of places around his property, south of Dresden, where he had buried the remains, city police chief Dieter Kroll said at a televised news conference.
The 59-year-old victim, whose name was not released, traveled about 250 miles by bus from Hanover to the meeting. 

The police worker allegedly buried his 59-year-old victim in the garden of his home near Dresden (pictured)

Police search around the property in eastern Germany and are investigating if any body parts were eaten

Police started looking into the case when the victim was reported missing on November 11 by a colleague. 
 Two days later, witnesses told officers that 'the missing man had fantasised since his youth about being killed and eaten by another person,' Kroll said.
The killing happened about a month after the pair first met in an Internet chatroom, police said.
'The victim had been fantasising about being killed and eaten by someone else since his youth,' Dresden police chief Dieter Kroll told a news conference.
Authorities are now checking whether any body parts are missing or were eaten but the suspect has denied doing so.
The website they used says it deals with 'exotic meat.'

Police worker arrested on suspicion of killing and eating a man

The victim travelled 250 miles to the house in Hanover for the meeting and was killed within hours

Police President Dieter Kroll (left) and public prosecutor Erich Wenzlick (right) told reporters today they are treating the case as murder and believe a portion of the victim was eaten

'He said that his victim wanted to be killed and he fulfilled this wish,' Haase said in a telephone interview.

The case has similarities to that of Armin Meiwes, who was jailed in 2002 for meeting, killing and eating a computer programmer from Berlin whose life's ambition was to be eaten.
Investigator Maik Mainda said the victim and the suspected killer maintained 'very intense contact by chat, by mail, by SMS but also by telephone' after first becoming acquainted in early October.
Police are only just beginning their investigation, he said.
'I can't give any conclusive information yet about the actual motivation of the suspect for killing his victim. We are investigating in all directions.'
German media reported that Detlev was previously married but divorced and then started a relationship with a man.

Case mirrors that of Armin Meiwes (left) who was jailed for killing, dismembering and eating Bernd Brandes

Prosecutors said the suspect did not mention whether he and the victim had any sexual relations before the killing.
The Dresden case 'will show how easily people can come together with the most gruesome fantasies on the Internet and exchange their perversions in increasingly crass manner,' police chief Kroll said.

'In 99 per cent of cases, they get their kick out of the exchange.'
His former wife is also employed by the state criminal investigation office.
In the case of the victim, it seemed his desires mirrored those of Bernd Brandes, the computer programmer who was dismembered and eaten by Meiwes at his home near Kassel in 2001.  

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100 women freed from sex slavery in Argentina

                                              

Buenos Aires - Nearly 100 women forced into prostitution were freed after police in Buenos Aires closed dozens of brothels, officials said on Thursday.

The 96 women, most originally from Paraguay and Peru, were released as police raided and shuttered around 30 brothels, police in the Argentine capital said.

Trafficking of young women is common in Argentina, according to authorities.

In 2012, officials dealt with 1 568 cases involving young people forced into work, with roughly half of them prostitutes.

FIFA ranking not a reflection of Eagles' achievements

Abuja - Mitchell Obi, the president of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS)-Africa, said on Thursday that the latest FIFA ranking was not a reflection of the Super Eagles' performance.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the country dropped three places down to 36 on the world ranking ladder, released by FIFA on Thursday.

Obi told NAN in Lagos that the Eagles, as the African champions, deserved to be placed higher, especially after the team’s recent qualification to the World Cup.

``The FIFA ranking is often so confusing and does not reflect global understanding of how best some teams have performed.

``Nigeria is the champion of Africa and in truth, ought to be better ranked than some teams on the table. I think FIFA needs to review its benchmark.

``We all know that we have a team that can hold its own even against the top 10 ranked countries and we saw a glimpse of that in the friendly against Italy,” he said.

Obi, however, expressed regrets that such development had the tendency to affect the country’s seeding, with the Brazil 2014 World Cup Draws around the corner.

``The World Cup draws is just a week away and this ranking would also be considered when seeding the teams into various pots.

``But I’m optimistic that this development will not affect the Eagles in any way because they have the tenacity to stand against any side,” the AIPS Africa president said.

The latest ranking showed that Nigeria has 710 points, as against the 724 points from the last ranking in October.

Nigeria is placed fourth in Africa, behind Algeria, Ghana and Cote d’ Ivoire, which have 800, 849 and 918 points, respectively.

NAN reports that the draws for the FIFA 2014 World Cup is scheduled to hold on December 6, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Police prepared for Anambra election

Abuja - Police have expressed readiness for the supplementary election in Anambra State.

Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, reassured Nigerians of the preparedness of the Force to ensure adequate provision of security in and around the state in view of the forthcoming supplementary poll in some parts of the region on Saturday.

He reassured citizens that earlier security arrangements for the earlier gubernatorial election were still in place, promising that the force would continue to maintain its optimal presence in the state until the conclusion of the election. 

The IGP also called for peace among the people of Anambra urging them to cooperate with the police and other relevant security agencies in ensuring an atmosphere of peace and order throughout the remaining phase of the election. 

He equally enjoined the politicians, traditional rulers, and opinion leaders in the state to play by the rules and also help in educating their followers on the need to allow Independent National Electoral Commission and other government agencies to see the process of the election through.

“The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Abubakar has charged the officers and men the Police and other relevant security agencies to remain steadfast, focused and neutral and exhibit the highest level of professionalism in the course of discharging their duties both during and after the period of the elections in the state. He called on the personnel of the Force and other security agencies to rededicate themselves and be truly committed towards ensuring a seamless and hitch free conduct of the supplementary election,” read a statement.

The commitment comes in the wake of the previous election that was characterized by chaos 

Governor appeals for release of elderly Tempurah

Abuja - Bayelsa Governor, Seriake Dickson, has appealed for the release of Nelson Tempurah, father of the State Commissioner for Tourism Development, Nelson Belief.

Unknown individuals abducted the 78-year-old a few days ago.

“My message to the kidnappers is that the people being held captive should be released without further delay. For those who are thinking of that as a lifestyle, we call on you to desist because it is in your interest to do so,” said the governor.

He alleged the act was aimed at giving the international community the wrong impression about the security situation at the home base of President Goodluck Jonathan. 

Speaking at a civic reception organised in his honour by the people of Ogbia Local Government Area, the Governor warned the people against being used by criminal elements within and outside the State. 

“Some of those people who are working hard to destabilize our State and discredit the home base of the President may not be even too far. Very few of them are even among us working in collaboration with the people outside to destabilize Bayelsa. But, I know that they will not succeed. 'If anything bad happens here, it gives our detractors happiness. So, I want to use this opportunity to condemn the recent acts of kidnapping that are particularly targeted at Ogbia area to discredit us and create a feeling of insecurity in this Local Government Area. Anything they do to Bayelsa is hot news that makes front page of newspapers. So, you need to caution yourselves,” Dickson said.

He called on the people of the state to be watchful especially as the nation was warming up for the 2015 general election as some criminal elements were looking for means of breaching the security situation in the state. 

The Governor said the necessary security measures were being put in place to checkmate the activities of the miscreants and make the state an investment haven. 

Italian mafia fed man to pigs, police say

                                         

Rome - A group of Calabrian mafia assassins beat a rival with a spade and fed him alive to pigs, Italian police said after rounding up 20 people for various mob crimes including five murders.

The murder probably took place in March 2012 when Francesco Raccosta disappeared, but his body has never been found, the court in the southern city of Reggio Calabria said in a statement.

Investigators arrested one of Raccosta's suspected assassins after they captured him bragging about the hit in a telephone wiretap.

"It was such a pleasure to hear him scream," the suspect said. "In my opinion, there's nothing left of him... This pig can really eat!"

The murder was one of five carried out in retaliation for the killing of boss Domenico Bonarrigo, who was shot three times while driving his car 11 days earlier, according to investigators.

The murders were part of a mob war between rival factions of the 'Ndrangheta, as the Calabrian mafia is known, for control of the criminal activities in the territory near the town of Oppido Mamertina, on the "toe" of the Italian boot.

Thanks to its dominant role in bringing cocaine into Italy and Europe, the loose-knit Calabrian mob, made up of more than 100 different clans, has eclipsed the economic power of the Sicilian mafia, Cosa Nostra.

- Reuters

To brother and sister nerd

Dear Nerd, You're very intelligent, an awkward individual whose social life is on the low, you love books and solving tech problems. Many times, you ask yourself if you're mad by doing the things you love. Imagine, your more ugly mates are having fun, partying around town while you're busy, locked away in your room, digging your head into a new book or solving another mathematical problem. 

In spite of your beauty/handsomeness, you just don't understand why people won't devote time to improving on themselves and getting better instead of partying and drinking away. Many of them even call you names and make you feel really bad. Are you considering joining them? Never do that! Don't!

You may think your life is boring now because it circles around academics and development. But I tell you, in the nearest tomorrow, you'll have the last laugh.

 Your life seems to lack "fun”, but don't worry, its because Mark and Steve gave up their own "fun" that we're enjoying Facebook and Apple today. I encourage you, I share your passion for greatness and I believe with you that we shall make great things happen for this country.

Someone said that small minds cannot understand great spirits and it’s true. The mediocre people in your life lack foresight and that's why they make you feel miserable. Never fall for their cheap trap. Even if they insult you that you don't have time for them, let them understand that there is more to life than counting bottles of beer you consumed. 

At the end of the day brother/sister Nerd, it is not how far but how well. Keep keeping on; we shall triumph. Till we get to the Promised Land, I shall be waiting for when you will pass me glass of water and thank God for the gift of grace for the race.

Jennifer Lopez's boyfriend brushes off splitting rumours

                          

Los Angeles - Jennifer Lopez's boyfriend has brushed off rumours they are headed for a split.

Casper Smart, who is also Jennifer's choreographer, admits he and the Dance Again hitmaker have been too busy for romantic dates recently, but insists he and the 44-year-old star are still having "fun" together.

The 24-year-old dancer told People.com before his girlfriend's tribute to the late queen of salsa Celia Cruz at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday: "Rehearsal is date night. We're in rehearsal until 3 a.m. every morning."

He added: "Rehearsal is so fun. Learning a special move she does in the show was fun."

Quality time together

Jennifer, who has five-year-old twins, Emme and Max, with her ex-husband, Marc Anthony, is also currently filming The Boy Next Door but Casper supports her on set so they can spend as much quality time together as possible.

He said: "She's filming a movie, so she would come to rehearsal after. So I'd be there like 12 hours and she would shoot like 12 hours [on] the movie and then come to us."

A source previously claimed that the On The Floor singer is planning to dump her backing dancer beau because the "spark" has disappeared from their two-year relationship.

The insider said: "Jennifer is pretty private about the relationship, but she's been hinting that the spark is gone. She's having a hard time ignoring the fact her head has been telling her for a while that this thing with Casper isn't forever. And now her heart's saying the same thing. 

"She enjoyed the relationship for what it is, but now that giddiness has turned to sadness."

Amosun assures prospective investors of safety

Abeokuta - Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun has assured local and foreign investors interested in locating their business concerns in the state of a secure environment for their investments.

He gave the assurance on Wednesday in Abeokuta at a stakeholders’ sensitisation workshop on the Ogun State One-Stop Investment Centre.

The centre is an initiative of the state Department of Trade and Investment in collaboration with GIZ of Germany.

Amosun, represented by Taiwo Adeoluwa, Secretary to the State Government, said the government had embarked on the development of infrastructural projects across the state to make business transactions easier.

"For the people to go about their lawful and legitimate activities without fear, molestation or threat to their lives and property, we have ensured adequate arrangement and facilities to guarantee a secured environment.

"We are determined to ensure that individuals and groups maximise their potential while investors are assured that their investments are safe," he said.

Amosun said OGSIC was established with the mandate to facilitate 'sufficient and effective’ service delivery and ease the burden of regulatory compliance by private domestic and foreign investors.

He said that government had also intensified its investment drive by restructuring both the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Bureau of Lands and Survey.

He said that these efforts had yielded dividends as no fewer than 80 companies had signified interest to domicile their concerns in the state.

Adenike Aboderin, Special Adviser to the governor on Trade and Investments, said the centre would strive to meet the yearnings of would-be investors by providing information on investment opportunities in the state.

In his presentation entitled "Urban and Regional Planning Reforms in Ogun State", Gbenga Otenuga the Commissioner for Urban and Physical Planning, said the government had undertaken various reforms to reduce delays in building plan approval.

"The urban and regional planning law no 20 of 2005 and building plan regulations of 2010 has been modified to address unnecessary delays and bottlenecks in building plan approval processing.

"A fall out of this is the empowerment of Local Planning Authority and Zonal Town Planning offices to approve simple applications at local level within a maximum of 14 days.

"The offices have also being empowered to approve special applications within a maximum of 21 working days," he said.

Otenuga said that e-payment and point of payment machines, among others, were now in use in the state.

He said that the use of these machines had reduced the time wasted in going to banks for payment.

Sexual regrets different for men and women

Abuja - If remorse over sex strikes a man or a women, he'll likely regret a lost opportunity while she'll fret over a one-night stand, a new study shows.

The researchers say the findings make evolutionary sense.

"For men throughout evolutionary history, every missed opportunity to have sex with a new partner is potentially a missed [reproductive] opportunity – a costly loss from an evolutionary perspective," study leader Martie Haselton explained in a University of Texas at Austin news release.

"But for women, reproduction required much more investment in each offspring, including nine months of pregnancy and potentially two additional years of breast-feeding," said Haselton, who is a social psychology professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. "The consequences of casual sex were so much higher for women than for men, and this is likely to have shaped emotional reactions to sexual liaisons even today."

In the study, Haselton's team surveyed nearly 25 000 heterosexual, bisexual, gay and lesbian Americans, and found that the top three most common sexual regrets for men were: being too shy to make a move on a prospective sexual partner (27%); not being more sexually adventurous when young (23%); and not being more sexually adventurous during their single days (19%).

'Physically unattractive partner'

For women, the top three regrets were: losing their virginity to the wrong partner (24%); cheating on a present or past partner (23%); and moving too fast sexually (20%).

More women than men (17% vs. 10%) listed having sex with a "physically unattractive partner" as a top regret, according to the study published in the Archives of Sexual Behaviour.

Rates of engaging in casual sex were similar overall among participants (56%), but women in all groups (heterosexual, bisexual and lesbian) had more frequent and intense regrets about it.

Haselton said that differences in men's and women's reaction to sex seem to endure over millennia, even though the context in which people have sex may have changed.

"For example, we have reliable methods of contraception," she said. "But that doesn't seem to have erased the sex differences in women's and men's responses, which might have a deep evolutionary history."

- HealthDay

Obama pays tribute to Hollywood on studio visit

   

Glendale - President Barack Obama praised the American movie industry on Tuesday, saying Hollywood was not only a key export industry but also an important cultural and diplomatic tool.

Speaking after a visit to the DreamWorks Animation studio in the Los Angeles suburb of Glendale, Obama said Hollywood was one of the engines of the American economy.

"I've come here today, because this is one of America's economic engines, not just DreamWorks, but this whole cluster of companies that generations have grown up knowing, Disney and Warner and Universal and others," Obama said after a guided tour of the studios responsible for successful franchises such asShrek, Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda.

Hollywood a 'diplomatic tool'

The entertainment industry had also served as an important diplomatic tool, Obama said.

"It's part of what makes us exceptional, part of what makes us such a world power," he said.

"You can go anywhere on the planet and you'll see a kid wearing a Madagascar T-shirt," he said.

"You can say, May the Force be with you, they know what you're talking about," he added, referring to the iconic line from Star Wars.

"Hundreds of millions of people may never set foot in the United States, but thanks to you, they've experienced a small part of what makes our country special," he told DreamWorks employees.

Obama ears as 'inspiration' for Shrek

Obama, meanwhile, peppered his address with cinematic references, joking that his ears had provided the inspiration for DreamWorks' lovable green ogre Shrek.

He also paraphrased from the mafia classic The Godfather in a pointed barb directed at his political enemies in Congress.

"When it comes to Congress, there's no such thing as an offer they can't refuse," he said.