Zimbabwe President, Robert Mugabe Turns 91

The President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe turns 91 today, February 21, and intends to celebrate the milestone with a lavish party.

Mugabe’s birthday celebration, which will hold on February 28, is expected to gulp about $1 million.

The menu for the event includes two elephants, two buffaloes, two sable antelopes, five impalas and a lion which were all donated by a local farmer.

The party is set to take place at the golf course of the Elephant Hills Resort in Victoria Falls.

Mugabe was born on February 21, 1924 in Kutama, Zimbabwe. He has been President of the country since December 22, 1987.

Barcelona 0-1 Malaga: Catalans Beaten at Home

Barcelona’s 11-game winning run was snapped by a resilient Malaga, who claimed their first win at the Camp Nou since 1999.

Juanmi pounced on an early Dani Alves error to score the match-winner and deny the home team a chance to go top of the La Liga for the first time in over three months, as leaders Real Madrid now have a chance to surge clear at the top against Elche on Sunday.
Barca huffed and puffed at goal with Rafinha and the returning Andres Iniesta failing to account for their first-half chances.

Lionel Messi Could Not Rescue Point for Barcelona in a 1-0 Home Defeat By Malaga. Image: Getty.

Malaga’s grid-locked defence held firm in the second half despite a late Barca surge, holding on to a surprise win in Andalucía much to the delight of both Madrid clubs. The match heralded ten crunch days for Luiz Enrique’s men, who next face a Champions League last-16 first leg tie at Manchester City before the semi-final of the Copa del Rey.
The Asturian boss tweaked his squad ahead of a busy scheduled but could not help as his side conceded after just seven minutes.
Alves’ poor back pass to second-choice Claudio Bravo was intercepted by Juanmi, who rounded the goalkeeper before prodding home.
Barca almost drew level two minutes later, but Wellington blocked Rafinha’s goal-bound effort.
The hosts continued to hold on to the ball, but the visitors never bought into their trick and, even threatened to double their lead on two quick occasions just after the half-hour mark.
Iniesta, fresh from recovering from flu, sent his tame header straight at Carlos Kameni five minutes before the break.
Barca continued to dominate play well into the second half but searched in vain for a breakthrough, with the impressive Wellington and Roberto Rosales proving a fortress in Malaga’s defence.
Neymar and Messi tried rescuing the home team by forcing coach Jarvi Garcia’s side into their own half, but decisions in the final-third fell short of accuracy.
Substitute Pedro sent Barca’s best chance into the side netting, as coach Enrique’s side were left ruing wasted opportunities ahead of their crucial trip to the Etihad Stadium.
For Malaga, who claimed a 0-0 draw at the La Rosaleda in the reverse fixture in September, it was a dream win- especially without their suspended Spanish midfielder Ignacio Camacho- enough to keep them in touching distance of Europe qualification.

Checkout 2face Idbia’s Son’s To-do List….

Sunmbo Adeoye shared it on instagram. How sweet!

Rihanna’s Warm Message On Her 27th Birthday

Beyonce Shares Photo Of Her 1st Grammy Award

She has 21 Grammys now but you’ll always remember your first one. She posted the photo on her instagram page and wrote “Flashback. My first Grammy. 15 years ago. Thank you hive . I love yall”

Jonathan Promises To Stabilize Power By 2017

President Goodluck Jonathan, Friday, assured Nigerians that power supply would be stabilised in the next two years.
He made the pledge at the inauguration of the 750MW Olorunsogo II Power Station in Olorunsogo, Ogun State.
The plant was constructed by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) and it is one of the 10 National Independent Power Plants constructed by the company across Nigeria.
“Private sector-controlled power sector will be midwifed and the interface between government and private sector will be sealed properly and Nigerians will take power for granted like in other countries,” said Jonathan.
Once power becomes stable, Jonathan noted that it would stimulate small and medium scale enterprises. “We want to stabilise power sector to stimulate SMEs because our industries cannot survive on generators.”
“$8.26 billion has been invested so far in NIPPs from ECA. These plants will be privatised through transparent exercise and the proceeds will be re-invested to boost transmission networks and upgrade other identified projects,” he stated.
Jonathan further said that he would inaugurate the Egbin power station on Saturday (today). He expressed happiness that he had continued to deliver on his campaign promises, including that of reforming the power sector.
Meanwhile, Jonathan has commissioned the Egbin power plant in Ikorodu, Lagos State. The plant, which is regarded as the largest of such in West Africa will add about 1320 MW of power supply to the national grid.

Jonathan at the new Egbin power station

Nigerian Troops Reclaim Baga

The Military, on Saturday, said Baga town in Borno State has been retaken from Boko Haram.
“Troops have this afternoon captured Baga after fierce battle with terrorists. Heavy Casualties. Mopping up ongoing. Details later,” the military said via Twitter today.
Although there has been no independent report confirming the announcement by the defence headquarters, but the channel used had often been used to disseminate information on the activities of the troops in the fight against insurgency.
A series of mass killings were carried out by Boko Haram in Baga and its environs between 3rd January and 7th January 2015, starting with the capture of a military base that was the headquarters of the Multinational Joint Task Force containing troops from Chad, Niger, and Nigeria. The militants then forced thousands of locals from the region and committed mass killings that culminated on the 7th. Local officials and residents who fled were quoted as saying that “over 2,000″ people were believed killed or “unaccounted for”. The Ministry of Defence, however, said that no more than 150 people in total had been killed, including militants.

Ekiti APC Submits Petition Against Fayose To NHRC

Ekiti State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has petitioned the National Human Rights Commission over alleged attack on its supporters the state by Governor Ayo Fayose and his loyalists.

The Executive Secretary of the commission, Prof. Bem Angwe, while receiving a copy of the petition in Abuja on Friday, expressed shock over the weighty allegations levelled against the governor by the APC.
It was learnt that copies of the petition with accompanying photographs, newspapers clips and tape were sent to the European Commission, United States Embassy in Nigeria, British High Commission, French Embassy, the US Secretary of States and the International Criminal Court at The Hague.
It was also sent to the Nigerian Bar Association, a former Secretary to the Commonwealth of Nations, Emeka Anyaoku, a former United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, the Yoruba Council of Elders and Egbe Igbimo Ure Ekiti.
The party alleged that violence-free elections could not be guaranteed in the state if the attacks by Gov. Fayose on the opposition was not checked.
The APC added that Fayose’s activities were undermining the peace pact recently signed by all presidential candidates in the forthcoming polls.
The APC secretary in the state, Mr. Omotosho Ayodele, while submitting the petition, said, “We are here over the present political situation in Ekiti State. We are busy praying for peace, but what we have in Ekiti State is a clear departure from that.
“As the NHRC is clamouring for violence-free polls, we are aware of the determination of the commission to bring the perpetrators of violence in the polls to book.
“Unfortunately, the person who is supposed to be the Chief Security Officer in Ekiti State is the person unleashing this violence in the state. Fayose’s thugs are always on the streets macheting people, scaring people, vehicles are being damaged, houses damaged in spite of various petitions to the police, nothing has been done”.
In his response, Angwe assured that the allegations would be investigated, but warned that the petitioner must be ready to face the consequences if its allegations were proven to be false.

Spicy Beef: Stella Damasus Gives Toyin Aimakhu Hard Reply To Her Insulting Comments

Seems like there’s very spicy beef cooking up between Stella Damasus and Toyin Aimakhu.

Toyin Aimakhu is on the hot seat as Stella Damasus has a reply to her confrontational comment.

Stella Damascus replied via her vlog to some “mean tweets and mails” she has received on social media.

Amongst the tweets and comments was Toyin Aimakhu’s comment on her video;

“Madam, Nigeria is my country. Nobody is killing anyone cos no be only you do video. #VisaDonExpire #BringOurSonBack #AttentionSeeker #LoveYouStill. – Toyin Aimakhu commented.

And Stella Damasus replied;

“I love you like crazy. But let’s look at your hashtags again” she said
“You said #VisaDonExpire#, I have been in this country for about two years, and nobody has asked me to leave.
“Apart from that, I’m doing a lot of work with the United Nations. If I had a problem with my Visa, I don’t think they would be working with me. When it comes to the visa issue, let’s be sure of what we are saying. –She said.

Speaking on the #BringOurSonBack# hashtag, Stella replied;

“Is her son missing?. Does she have a son?. If your son is missing, let us look for him.
“You know I know how to do videos as you said. Tell me and I will scream till my lungs burst or something”.

Amber Rose Replies Kanye West’s Humiliating Tweets

Kanye West said ‘no woman wants to be with you after you’ve been with Amber’, that he had to take 30 showers before he could be with Kim. Trust Amber to get back. See her tweets.

Praiz Shoots ‘Sisi’ Video Ft. Wizkid .. See Behind The Scene

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Mr Rich & Famous looks like owning the whole of 2015, one month at a time!
Nigeria’s R&B/Soul star Praiz recently hooked up with Pop star Wizkid in Lagos to shoot this colourful, Pop-esque video for one of his biggest singles ‘Sisi’.
‘A lot of fans love the song, it was only right we’d shoot a video for them. Wizzy was excited too and eager to get the visuals done. We had fun shooting this’, Praiz says.
Directed by Unlimited L.A, the video also features Sammy and producer GospelOnDBeatz.
The X3M act released his debut album, a double CD – ‘RICH and FAMOUS’ in December 2014 which has received very positive reviews from music critics and fans worldwide.

Featuring Davido, Lola Rae, Maleek Berry, Hakym & More, Stunnah Gee Unveils Star-Studded Debut EP “My Passport"

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Following the massive success of his last single ‘Dengeme Remix’ featuring Davido and teaser track ‘Baby Le’ which preceded it, fast-rising Nigerian artist Stunnah Gee is proud to debut his long awaited debut EP titled My Passport, which is out now on his own record imprint Stunning Music Records in conjunction with Black Studz Entertainment. The My Passport EP 10 monster hits and appearances from   Davido, Lola Rae, Haykm, Dotun Dazzler and Kaystar, with the stellar production through the EP provided by Maleek Berry, P2J, O.Y Productions, Ayobeatz and T-izzle The Beatmaker.

 Experimenting with several different sounds, from Afrobeats to Highlife to Afropop to House music, Stunnah Gee has crafted a stellar body of work, featuring some of his strongest records to date and collaborating with some of the very best stars of Nigerian music – without question, the My Passport EP is an Afrobeats listener’s dream come true.

Track list and download link below:

1. “Fashion-god” ft. Hakym

2. “Baby Le” (Prod. by T-izzle The Beatmaker)

3. “Dengeme Remix” ft. Davido

4. “Ikebe Dance” (Prod. By Ayobeatz)

5. “Mo Fe E” (Ko Femi) ft. lola Rae

6. “Celebrate Today” (Prod. By Maleek Berry)

7. “Duru Yi” (Pangolo) (Prod. By Dotun Dazler)

8. “Kilotunku” ft. Kaystar

9. “Sodi Shuke” (Prod. By O.Y Productions)

10. “Yeh Yeh” (Prod. By P2J)

DOWNLOAD Stunnah Gee “My Passport” EP

VIDEO: Mavins – “Looku Looku” ft. Tiwa Savage, Don Jazzy, Dr SID, D’Prince, Reekado Banks, Di’ja & Korede Bello

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Supreme Mavin Dynasty unwraps the music video for “Looku Looku”.The video for the track which features Tiwa Savage, Don Jazzy, Dr SID, D’Prince, Reekado Banks, Di’ja and Korede Bello was shot for Unlimited L.A.
Watch the video below and drop your comments.

DOWNLOAD VIDEO Mavins – “Looku Looku” ft. Tiwa Savage, Don Jazzy, Dr SID, D’Prince, Reekado Banks, Di’ja & Korede Bello

Vector To Feature M.I, Sarkodie & ‘Local Rappers’ on King Kong Remix

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Rap badman, Vector recently put out a new material King Kong that had a classic video to go with. According to him, the widespread acceptance of the well-anticipated song has led him to doing a remix… by fans popular demand. Whoop!

So not only will he give us just any remix, it will feature the tripartite breed of ‘local rappers’ in the industry – Reminisce, Olamide and Phyno as well as self-acclaimed king, M.I and Ghanaian rap sensation, Sarkodie.

This definitely will be too much heat to handle… and even better, we get to watch their genius synergy in a follow up video release. The music package (original+remix) will be housed on his new album scheduled for release late 2015.

Wait for it!

Davido And Billionaire, Otedola On A Boat Ride Together [PHOTOS]

We all know that Davido’s dad is a billionaire, but the talented young singer decided to hang out with another billionaire father figure.

The Omo Baba Olowo of Nigerian music, Davido shared a photo of himself and billionaire Femi Otedola enjoying a boat ride together.
Davido captioned the pic with “Wake up with a purpose. Go to sleep with a plan. All day hold positive intentions. F.O x O.B.O”

Photo: Don Jazzy Dazzles In Iyanya’s Video Shoot For His Hit Single, ‘Gift’

I know there’s nothing special about this photo but………there’s news behind it.
Don Jazzy was featured in Iyanya’s single — ‘Gift’, and the hit song made waves.
The Mavin boss is currently on set for the video of Iyanya’s latest hit song “Gift”.
The picture above shows Don Jazzy on the set of the video shoot at London.

Iyanya Chilling On The Set Of His Musical Video, ‘Gift”

The Kukere master  shared a photo of himself just chilling while the director was setting things up.
We all can’t wait to see this video, Iyanya’s music videos are always filled with enough interesting and steamy moments *wink*

PHOTOS & VIDEO: 75-Year-Old Propose To Ex-wife After 40 Years

The moment a woman’s ex-husband proposed after more than 40 years of being apart was captured on camera on Valentine’s day.

Scroll down for a wonderful video!

Renate Stumpf, 75, first met Louis Demetriades in Germany when they were aged just 18. After 13 years of marriage and three children they separated, however true love never dies and Louis drove 114 miles from Memphis to Arkansas to pop the question at Renate’s work in Walmart this week.

After 13 years of marriage and three children they separated, however true love never dies. The two spoke for the first time in 43 years in December, and their affection for one another was quickly reignited. Renate said, “When we saw each other again last December, we knew right then we still loved each other for sure. That love has never passed. Nevertheless, I’m going to have to test him a little bit first! I will marry him though, because he’s a good man.”

Throwback Photo Of Goodluck Jonathan On His Convocation And NYSC POP

The presidential elections might have been postponed but nonetheless, the historical date is still close.
While some people are battling Buhari over his results, Goodluck Jonathan is flaunting photos of himself during his NYSC and his convocation.
Thank God the new set of Corpers don’t have to wear this same old ugly khaki.
What do you think?

Reasons Your Husband Won’t Help With Housework

It looks like money can’t buy cleanliness. According to a study from the University of Warwick, rich husbands are less likely to help their partners with housework.
The study interviewed 36 women and 12 married men, all of whom had at least one child younger than 14. The study found men with lower incomes would help with housework, whereas rich men were more likely to hire outside help to keep the home clean.
“It seems men on lower incomes are happily picking up the dusters, filling the dishwasher and generally starting to do their bit,” said Dr. Clare Lyonette from Warwick University in a press release.
Part of the reason men don’t help, according to the study, is because women don’t feel men can complete the housework tasks properly. Daily Mail called this the “myth of male incompetence.”
“Women know their contribution to the household should be fairly reflected in the sharing of housework and are often frustrated by their lack of success in changing the situation — but their frustrations are to some extent mollified by the idea that men are inept at domestic chores,” Lyonette said in a press release.
According to the American Time Use Survey from 2014, women still do the most housework, even as men have increasingly been doing more. The survey found 83 percent of women and 65 percent of men do household activities, like cleaning, lawn care and other management tasks, according to Time magazine.

Lyonette said men will start doing more housework once the stigma changes and both genders accept that both men and women can do housework.
“Men from lower-income families certainly seem to be starting to do their bit around the home. But at the same time, until all men are willing to take on more domestic tasks, so allowing women to take on greater responsibility within the workplace, any hoped-for progress in gender equality is likely to stall,” Lyonette said.

5 Signs Your Relationship Is In Trouble

You made it through Valentine’s Day.

Maybe it was a tender, heartfelt celebration of your union with candy hearts, flowers and singing birds.
Or maybe the über-romantic holiday left you feeling unsettled, insincere, worried. Now that Cupid’s wings are out of your eyes, it could be time to reassess your relationship for any of these five warning signs that your love may be on the wane.
1. You’re always arguing.
This one seems self-evident, but so often, it’s not. I have a friend who frequently calls me to vent about her boyfriend’s latest infraction: He lied, he no-showed a date, he didn’t come check on her when she was sick. They fight — loud, screaming things that are alarming to hear — and then everything is aces. When she and I talk about their volatile dynamic in the lucid times, my friend agrees that his behavior makes her angry, that she doesn’t feel cherished and that she’s exhausted from fighting. Yet they stay together.
“Why?” I ask.
“I love him.”
The lowest lows often accompany the loftiest highs, and when things are good it may be hard to let go of someone with whom you share great passion and, yes, love. But despite what the Roman poet Virgil and Hallmark may want you to believe, love does not conquer all. You can love someone and still be better off without them — and when your relationship becomes filled with friction and dissatisfaction and resentment more often than the course of true love runs smooth, you’re sacrificing your peace of mind (and heart) to an unhealthy, destructive dynamic.
2. You never argue.
Conversely, too much accord might be a signal of trouble — namely that one partner (or both) is suppressing her real feelings, or subsuming himself in his partner, or has mentally “checked out” of the relationship. No two people with unique backgrounds, mind sets, ideology, etc., can live in perfect accord at all times — sometimes I can even have lively arguments with myself.
That doesn’t mean that screaming fights should be part of your couple repertoire. Everyone argues differently; the key is to respect your partner’s differing point of view, as well as their means of expressing it — but also to take into account how they are most comfortable handling disagreements. I have an atavistic, knee-jerk fear of shouting; raised voices utterly unnerve me, leaving me too freaked out to engage as a rational adult. My husband knows that about me, and is careful not to yell, even amid a heated discussion.
In a healthy relationship, two people feel comfortable expressing their thoughts, concerns and emotions — even the difficult ones — but can still stay cognizant of each other’s feelings.
3. You’re always mad.
Remember when you first started dating your boyfriend, and his habit of taking his pants off as soon as he walked in his front door and lounging around in his boxer briefs seemed like a charming quirk? If those same foibles you once found endearing now make you want to scoop out his eyeballs with a grapefruit spoon, you might have one foot out the door.
Sometimes before we’re ready to admit that our feelings have changed or our relationship is no longer working, our raw nerves are trying to tell us the truth. Are you often irritated by your partner? Do you find you’re quick to take offense to things he says and does? Does your temper flare up faster and easier than usual? Pay attention to those signs. It might be your primal emotions reacting to the truth of your situation before your mind is ready to accept it.
5. You’re happy. Really. You are.
This is the most insidious and easy-to-miss indication that your relationship may be on shaky ground. Many relationships, especially long-term ones, can settle into a complacent comfort zone as two people grow ever more familiar.
But familiarity is not intimacy. In fact, sometimes it engenders the opposite — when we become convinced we know everything there is to know about our partner, we can go on autopilot and stop paying attention. Intimacy is being open — not just willing to show your own vulnerabilities, but open to the unique, separate, always changing individual your partner is. Once we think we know everything there is to know about someone, we keep them slotted into that safe, comfortable category — and we stop growing as a couple.
If things are perfectly fine between you — pleasant, polite, comfortable — but something is missing, take stock. This doesn’t have to be a signal that things are over — sometimes it’s a much-needed wake-up call for a couple to remember to see the other person as another person- – not just a familiar appendage taken for granted.
But whether you decide to work on things or end them, don’t put it off. There are only 361 days left till next Valentine’s Day.

How To Live A Cancer Free Life

Cancer propaganda is blasted from the airways, the television, the Internet, and print media. Cancer treatment is big business. So are the campaigns that ask you to contribute your hard earned money to find a cure. Meanwhile the big shots at the American Cancer Society make six figures, while claiming they are searching for a cure. But there is no real cure that will ever come from conventional medicine, just treatments – treatments that are as likely to kill as they are to cure.

Cancer is a malfunction within the body. So the obvious question to ask is, “Why is the body malfunctioning?”
Every cell within the body has a purpose. If the cell isn’t functioning correctly, it is due to one or both of these basic reasons:
The cell does not have the proper nutrition it needs to function correctly.
Toxins or waste are making it impossible for the cell to function correctly.
So how do you avoid cancer or heal your body if you already have cancer?
First and foremost, you flood your body with nutrients and keep the digestive system healthy. This is the foundation for all health. Your body needs a wide variety of nutrients to nourish itself, to feed every cell, to regulate its systems, to produce neurotransmitters and hormones, T cells and red blood cells, bone and tissue. It cannot maintain, much less repair itself, if it doesn’t have the basic building blocks it requires. And it all starts with diet.
So what is a truly health diet?
A truly healthy diet is a plant-based diet consisting of 80% fresh, raw, organic produce – more vegetables than fruits. It contains a wide variety of foods and includes healthy omega 3 fatty acids. If meat is eaten, it is also organic.
A truly healthy diet does not contain artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. It does not include GMOs, MSG, or trans fats. In other words, it does not contain 99% of today’s processed foods. Limit sugar and caffeine. Try to eliminate all processed sugar. Cancer cells love sugar.
Numerous studies have revealed a link between meat consumption and cancer rates. Vegetarians definitely have lower rates of cancer. Processed meats are the worst offenders – again artificial preservatives are very toxic to the body. But all of today’s meat – except for organic, free-range meats – contain antibiotics and hormones. Many of the animals are raised on foods unnatural to their diet. In addition, many are fed GMO foods. Is it any wonder that consumption of disease ridden, factory-raised animals contributes to cancer?

How ISIS makes (and takes) money

The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria has crude, stomach-turning tactics when it comes to dealing with its enemy, but experts say that its moneymaking methods are highly sophisticated, especially for such a new terror group.

Here's a look at how ISIS has made (and taken) millions:

Oil production and smuggling

ISIS makes between $1 million and $2 million each day from oil sales, numerous sources tell CNN. The oil comes mostly from refineries and wells that ISIS controls in northern Iraq and northern Syria.

The militants smuggle oil into southern Turkey, for example, and sell it to people who desperately need it just to carry on some semblance of everyday life.

The United States-led coalition fighting ISIS has repeatedly targeted ISIS oil assets in an effort to, in part, damage this arm of the group's financial system.

ISIS is estimated to produce about 44,000 barrels a day in Syria and 4,000 barrels a day in Iraq, according to Foreign Policy. A Kurdish newspaper has published the names of people involved with ISIS and its oil enterprise, the magazine reported.

Some on the list were associated with oil smuggling under former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, Foreign Policy said, as were those associated with a Toyota branch in Irbil that sells ISIS trucks.

Through its oil operations, ISIS appears to be trying to establish a self-sufficient state in the "Sunni triangle" in west and north Iraq, said Luay al-Khatteeb, founder and director of the Iraq Energy Institute.

Today, ISIS controls approximately 6 million people in Iraq and Syria, he said, and "that is a lot of people who need fuel."

Ransoms from kidnappings

In 2012, the U.S. Treasury Department estimated that al Qaeda and its affiliates had accumulated $120 million from ransoms over the previous eight years.

ISIS was once aligned with al Qaeda. The two groups are thought to operate separately but share similarities.

A 2014 New York Times investigation found that since 2008, al Qaeda and its affiliates had received $125 million from ransoms, including $66 million in 2013.

A Swedish company reportedly paid $70,000 to save an employee whom ISIS abducted.

Though officials publicly deny paying ransoms, the French purportedly have a policy of negotiating with militant groups to free its citizens. ISIS kidnapped Nicolas Henin, Pierre Torres, Edouard Elias and Didier François, in 2013 in Syria. They were released in April 2014, CNN national security analyst Peter Bergen said in a report that asked whether paying ransoms is a wise strategy.

The United States has a policy of not doing that, and the recent executions of U.S. and other Western ISIS hostages have sparked debate over whether that should change. ISIS demanded hundreds of millions of dollars for American journalist James Foley, said Philip Balboni, the CEO of GlobalPost, the outlet for which Foley freelanced.

ISIS beheaded Foley and released a video of the slaying.

The terrorists also told the Japanese government to pay a $200 million ransom to free two Japanese citizens. Japan did not negotiate, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said. ISIS slaughtered the men.

Looting and selling stolen artifacts and antiquities

ISIS allows locals to dig at ancient sites as long as those people give ISIS a percentage of the monetary value of anything found, according to a September 2014 New York Times opinion piece written by three people who had recently returned from southern Turkey and interviewed people who live and work in ISIS-controlled territory.

ISIS' system of profiteering from antiquities thieving is very complicated, the three said, adding that for some areas along the Euphrates River, ISIS leaders encourage semiprofessional field crews to dig.

"ISIS has caused irreparable damage to Syria's cultural heritage," the writers said, and it's crucial that the digging and smuggling of antiquities be stopped because Syria's history is essentially part of its identity. Leaving some of the targeted heritage intact, they said, "will be critical in helping the people of Syria reconnect with the symbols that unite them across religious and political lines."

CNN has extensively reported on ISIS' destruction of some ancient and deeply meaningful sites in Iraq. Officials in Iraq have said ISIS has blown up shrines such as the tomb of Jonah.

Qais Hussain Rashid, director general of Iraqi museums, told CNN that ISIS militants "cut these reliefs and sell them to criminals and antique dealers." He gestured to an ornate carving that's thousands of years old. "Usually they cut off the head, leaving the legs, because the head is the valuable part."

As if pillaging weren't enough, ISIS simply damages fragile historical sites as if they were empty storefronts for the taking. Rashid said that ISIS has used the ancient ruined city of Hatra, or al-Hadr in Arabic, which dates back to the third century B.C., as a training ground, weapons depot and a place to murder prisoners.

'Taxes,' aka extortion

In 2014, ISIS gained control of large swaths of Iraq and Syria and set out to create civil and administrative entities as if it were a legitimate state. That is, after all, what the militants have claimed to be after -- a caliphate, or an Islamic state led by one person, a successor to the Prophet Mohammed.

States demand taxes. In ISIS-controlled areas, to get anything done -- or to survive -- the people pay a fee to the terror group. Businesses are taxed if they want to have essential things like electricity and security, experts say.

Drivers who want to move through a checkpoint must hand over cash. When it's used more and more, extortion can seem to a terrified and traumatized populace as a normal tax system, Joseph Thorndike, the director of Tax Analysts' Tax History Project, wrote in Forbes.

Stealing

Sometimes there's no pretense such as "taxing." ISIS has stolen money, too. In June 2014, the group raided several banks in Mosul and stole an estimated $500 million, though the full amount is unconfirmed, according to global intelligence firm Stratfor. In Syria, ISIS has seized control of oil facilities, taking over from rebel group al-Nusra, which didn't fight back.

Organs harvesting and sale?

The Iraqi ambassador to the United Nations caused a sensation this week when he said that bodies have been found mutilated, and openings have been carved out of the backs of the corpses. To Mohamed Alhakim, that indicated "some parts are missing."

He said it's possible that ISIS is harvesting and trafficking the organs of dead civilians.

There is tremendous skepticism about that, particularly considering how hard it would be to preserve organs in crude and unsanitary war environments.

Mark Lyall Grant, Britain's ambassador to the U.N., said there was no proof or evidence to support Alhakim's assertion.

Control of crops

Mouaz Moustafa, the executive director of the Syrian Emergency Task Force in Washington, told CNN that Raqqa, ISIS' de facto Syrian capital, is a kind of breadbasket. "They've got the cotton and the wheat." he said. The United States has targeted grain silos that ISIS controls.

A separate economy?

Last year, ISIS announced that its "Treasury Department" would start minting its own gold, silver and copper coins for its "Official Islamic State Financial System." It's not clear if this has any value. The move is "purely dedicated to God," ISIS declared, and will remove Muslims from the "global economic system that is based on satanic usury."

Rita Dominic Shares Throwback Photo Of Her Late Parents On Their Wedding Day

Considering how many years back this photo was taken, I think it’s fair to say that her dad had a very good fashion face; fitted suit and perfect pose.
Although her parents are late, before they passed on, both parents were medical practitioners.
Her father was a medical doctor and her mother a nursing officer.
See another photo below: –

I quit politics because of my mother –Julius Agwu

Julius Agwu

Popular humour merchant, Julius Agwu, was one of the entertainers that joined the politics train. The comedian had the ambition to become the next governor of his state but he opted out of the race without a reason.

However during a Valentine dinner hosted in honour of the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate and running mate, Muhammadu Buhari and Yemi Osibanjo, the funny man was the anchor of the event and he did not disappoint his fans by making them laugh hysterically.

He also revealed why he backed out from the race. Agwu said that immediately his mother got wind of his political ambition, she called him and begged him to opt out of the race.

He said, “My mum called me to confirm and I said it was true. She cried on the phone and told me to drop my ambition and leave it for the politicians before they kidnap her and demand for ransom. I had to oblige my mother’s request,” he said.

I’ve made up with Terry G –AY.com

AY.com

AY.com became a household name in 2009 soon after his hit track, Pass me your love, was released. Interestingly, so many people thought the song was Terry G’s who he featured on that track. It was even reported that AY.com asked Terry G never to perform the song without his consent. It was also alleged the artistes fell out because of that.

And when the song stopped being a club banger, nothing was heard of AY.com again. It was as if his time fizzled out just as soon as the song went off air. Many even went ahead to allege that his rift with Terry G contributed to his exit from the music scene.

But in a chat with Saturday Beats, the singer cleared the air, stating the reason for his hiatus.

He said that he left the limelight to raise a family which he said was very important to him. AY.com dispelled insinuations that the misunderstanding between him and his friend affected his music career.

The singer said, “I am a family man and marriage is totally different from courtship. It is a lifetime union. I was away from music so that I could get to know my wife better. Marriage was one of the reasons I was away from the limelight. Raising a family requires a lot of attention and that is what I am giving my family. I have two children now. I had to train them to a level for them to know their wrong from right. I had to make sure my home was stable before I went back into music. I had to give my home the attention it deserves because my family is very important to me. If my home is not settled, there is no way the music would be settled. I give God the glory that my family is settled.”

He said that his rift with Terry G is over and they have a song together. He admitted that they both learnt their lessons from their misunderstanding and hoped that it would strengthen their relationship.

“People that say that my career has failed as a musician do not know what they are talking about. I can never fail as a musician because I control music. I just released a song with Terry G, No Mind Them. I decided to work with Terry G because we started everything together. I wanted us to clear the air about our beef because I receive a lot of calls concerning that matter. We are good friends now. Those that believe that my rift with Terry G ruined my career are entitled to their opinion. All I would say is that I learnt a lot from our rift. I regret some aspects and it taught me a lot of lessons; likewise Terry G too. It made me to be able to stand on my own and be a man.

“Before the misunderstanding, we used to be very close friends but we are not as close as we used to be. We are not so close as before because we are both family men now. I don’t know if things can be the way they used to be between us because there are women and children in our lives now. I wish and pray that things would be better than they used to be between us because he is a very good friend of mine,” he said.

Davido, Joke Silva, Others for NEC 2015

Music superstar, Davido and TV veteran, Joke Silva, are among those who would be part of this edition of Nigerian Entertainment Conference.

In its third year running, the organisers of NEC said the edition will hold in April at the Eko Hotel and Suits, Lagos.

According to NEC founder, Adekunle Ayeni, this year’s edition with the theme, ‘Buying and Selling Nigerian Entertainment and Everything in-between,’ is centered on the entertainment practitioners and what they have done in the past years, using case studies to deliver presentations everyone can learn from.

“We’re moving the conversation beyond rhetoric this year, and actually providing a platform for individuals and companies doing great stuff to come and show the world what we’re about,” Ayeni said.

Speakers and facilitators for this year’s edition also include acclaimed Afrinolly’s Chike Maduegbuna; founder and CEO of Ebony Life TV, Mo Abudu; IT entrepreneur, Chika Nwobi; Iroko TV founder, Jason Njoku; music distributor, Uba Pacific and Quilox chairman, Shina Peller.

Tonto Dikeh Wishes Her Special Male Friend Happy Birthday On Instagram

We aren’t sure if this is the same person as her mystery man ‘X’, but I think he is.
Even if this is what he looks like, we still don’t know what he does and how they met; and Tonto Dikeh continues to tease us.
The controversial actress turned singer went on her Instagram page to share the news of her man’s birthday.
She posted a message to him alongside this gorgeous picture of him.
She said: “HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SAFE HAVEN,I LOVE U A MILLION & AM SUPER PROUD OF YOU*ITS BEEN A BEAUTUFUL EXPERIENCE BIN YOUR FRIEND. .
#ESCAPETONIGHT @dukeofspadess

My marriage remains unshakable –Foluke Daramola

Foluke Daramola

Popular actress, Foluke Daramola-Salako, has had her fair share of controversies especially over her marriage to popular socialite, Kayode.

Last Sunday was a double celebration for the couple as they marked their second wedding anniversary and the actress’ birthday. In a chat with Saturday Beats, the busty actress explained how she coped with the negative stories.

She said, “I am excited and happy that I am a year older and my marriage is waxing stronger. God has been faithful. I’m grateful to God for good health and a happy marriage. Definitely, my husband and I would be together forever. It is not because of what people say but because of the conviction that I have and what my husband and I feel for each other. We know that we are meant to be in this marriage. Even in the midst of the storm, controversy and scandal, we still knew what was binding us together was true love which is well rooted in Christ. It is not based on the facade of celebrity marriages. It is beyond all that and we both knew that we would be married forever no matter what.”

The damsel explained that as a woman, anytime she read negative news about her marriage, she felt bad but her husband was always there to support her.

“Whenever I read any bad news about us, I felt bad. But Kayode wouldn’t feel bad because he was convinced about what we feel for each other. I felt bad because it was not me that was portrayed in those stories.

The fact that I have feelings for someone and the person feels the same way about me and we both have a past that we are moving beyond does not make us bad people. The way they made it seem to the outside world was like I was a bitch that just wanted to be wicked. I was trying to be happy. My husband and I felt bad but he had to be bold and brave for both of us. He had to be a man and he handled it very well. He helped me overcome it and I thank God that it is over,” she said.

The actress further said that everything is fine between her family and their estranged spouses.

“Everybody is fine now. Everything is cool with our ex because we believe that we disagree to agree. Just because it did not work with one person does not mean it would not work with another person. All parties involved are mature about it and so far, everybody is happy.”

A victim of rape, Foluke said she is about to float a non-governmental agency that would help rape victims.

“I have in the pipeline the launching of my film, Cobweb and my foundation, Passion Against Rape in Africa,” she said.

No room for interim government, Abdulsalami insists

Former Head of State, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar
| credits: blueprintng.com

A former Head of State and Chairman of the National Peace Committee for 2015 General Elections, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), has ruled out the possibility of an Interim National Government saying he believes in the assurance of the Federal Government.

He also stated that the Peace Committee, made up of security chiefs, party chieftains and religious leaders, would be meeting with the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to clear the controversies surrounding the use of card readers in the elections.

The elder statesman spoke with journalists on Thursday night in Abuja after a five-hour meeting held with the stakeholders to ensure that President Goodluck Jonathan and the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) abide by the Abuja Accord on the prevention of violence and acceptance of election results.

The accord was sponsored by two world reputable men of peace: former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan and ex-Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku.

According to him, elections will hold on March 28 as scheduled, while the May 29 handover date remains sacrosanct.

He equally called on party leaders to call their followers to order, warning that the country cannot afford to entertain violence after the elections.

Abdulsalami said, “We are aware of the controversies surrounding the use of card readers and we are going to meet with the INEC on this issue. We are going to meet him to educate us on where they are on this matter.

“We are going to have a meeting with the chairman of INEC to ascertain what has been done regarding their preparedness.

“We have been meeting to review where we stopped at the last meeting. We are aware that the election dates have been shifted. There have been a lot of rumours circulating around the country whether there are plans to form an interim government.

“The President has affirmed that elections will hold on March 28 and there is no issue of interim government. The Attorney-General of the Federation has also said there is nothing like interim government. He has also said that there are no plans to have an interim government. We are appealing to Nigerians to focus on exercising their rights on election day.

“During the meeting here, we were fortunate to have the chairman of APC and representative of the PDP chairman. We are appealing to our youths to ensure that they are not used as thugs. It is always the children of the poor that are used during the elections. We appeal to party leaders to tell their supporters and candidates to be law-abiding. We must ensure that the peace we have had so far is sustained.

According to him, the committee, like every Nigerian, is not happy with the violence and what happened in Okrika, Rivers state. He urged Nigerians to maintain peace during the elections.

The meeting was attended by APC national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, PDP Deputy National Legal Adviser, Alhaji Bashir Maidugu, Presidential Adviser on inter-party Affairs, Chief Ben Obi, and Chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council, Dr. Tanko Yunusa, amongst many others.

In an interview with journalists, Oyegun said he aligned with the position of the INEC chairman that only the military could determine whether election would take place on March 28.

He said, “The INEC chairman was being realistic (on election date), I am not comfortable (with INEC chairman’s stance on March 28). I was not comfortable with it in the first time and am still not comfortable with it, but he was being realistic.

“Part of the problem in this country is that electoral violence refuses to abate because law is not being enforced. If there is law enforcement added to our own appeal, I think we will see abatement. But if there is selective law enforcement, because of this power of incumbency, then you cannot expect it to abate.

“There must be change, there has to be change, if we de-escalate the un-necessary political war that is going on now. There is massive attack on INEC, massive attack on the use of PVCs, the massive court actions that are going on now to have our candidate disqualified and even have the PVCs declared illegal by the court of law.

“In law, you can get any kind of judgement, anything before the court is 50-50,” Oyegun added.

PDP plotting to disrupt poll in Borno –Govt

Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima
| credits: www.bornostate.gov.ng

The Borno State Government on Friday alleged that there is a grand design by the Peoples Democratic Party to thwart the forthcoming general elections in the state.

The government during a press briefing by the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Mohammed Bulama, said the recent politically motivated attack and allegations by the party were parts of the plan to ensure that elections do not hold in Borno State.

Bulama said, “Everyone knows that the PDP cannot win the forthcoming elections as the party has been nowhere in the last four years when the state went through its hardest time.

“Since the PDP knows that they are going to meet their Waterloo during the elections, they do not want the day to come or try as much as possible to discredit our victory which is already assured.

“It is a known fact that the leaders of the PDP in the state, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and Alhaji Mohammed Imam, are the promoters of politics of violence and are presently drawing from the reservoir to destabilise the state.”

Bulama explained, “That Sheriff having lost his bid for the senate has nothing to protect but to see that Governor Kashim Shettima who has grown to become his major traducer does not get his mandate renewed.

“On his part, Mohammed Imam has seen that the election is already won and lost and he does not have the intention of accepting his fate and move on without an inglorious fight.”

He added that the state government and the APC would do everything to ensure that the elections are held because “we can see that we have the chance of not only winning the state but forming government at the federal level.”

Elections: CAN denies N7bn bribery allegation

CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor

The Christian Association of Nigeria has denied the allegation that its leaders were offered N7bn by the Presidency to campaign for President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election.

The association also called on security agencies to investigate the Voice of Northern Christian Movement and its Executive Director, Mr. Musa Dikwa, for making the allegation.

The association also linked the allegation to those using different Christian organisations to perpetrate fraud.

In a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by the General Secretary of CAN, Dr. Musa Asake, the association said the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd), had fallen into wrong hands, “because his endorsement for the March 28 general election by Northern Christian Leaders Eagle-Eye Forum led by one Aminchi Habu was fraudulent.”

The statement read, “We are therefore calling on security agencies to investigate the activities of the Voice of Northern Christian Movement and Musa Dikwa himself to unravel the N7bn mystery which is intended by their sponsors to throw the country into serious crisis.

“For the avoidance of doubt, CAN has no knowledge of any N7bn transaction as alleged by Musa Dikwa who claims to be the Executive Director of a non-existent group, Voice of Northern Christian Movement.

“CAN is not a political party, let alone getting involved in partisan politics. Christians who are members of CAN belong to different political parties. It is therefore surprising to hear that CAN is campaigning for one candidate.

“Revered men of God including the CAN President, Pastors Ayo Oritsejafor; Bishop David Oyedepo of Winners Chapel and Pastor Bosun Emmanuel (Secretary-General of National Christian Elders Forum) are too upright to be linked with any such deal.”

400,000 PVCs yet to arrive in Lagos –INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission in Lagos says at least 400,000 Permanent Voter Cards have yet to arrive the state.

The state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Akin Orebiyi, said this during a news briefing in Lagos on Friday.

He, however, promised that the cards would arrive Lagos by Monday next week.

Orebiyi said although less than 70 per cent of Lagos registered voters had received their PVCs, Lagos still has the highest PVC distribution which stands at over three million.

“As of February 14, we had distributed 3,619,640 out of 5,905,852 registered voters. That is about 64 per cent but it is the highest in Nigeria. We are still awaiting the arrival of about 400,000 PVCs from the national headquarters and as soon as we are able to receive them, we will make them available,” he said.

Orebiyi denied allegations that INEC was withholding PVCs belonging to non-indigenes in the state.

He, however, revealed that some local governments were more affected than others regarding the availability of PVCs.

He said, “We are expecting additional cards in all the 20 local governments in the state but some areas have high number of outstanding cards which we should get soon. In Oshodi/Isolo Local Government Area, places like Bolade, Orile, Isolo and Okota and a number of places in the LGA are affected.

“In Mushin LGA, we are still expecting cards for Mushin Olateju ward, specifically 28 polling units there; Ilasa, Mushin Atewolara, Itire, Alakara, Papa Olosha, Papa Ajao, as well as Kayode and Fadeyi

“In Ibeju/Lekki LGA, we are still expecting a few cards in Simiwon Igbekodo, CHS Lakowe, Abijo and Orinmawa. In Ikeja LGA, we are still expecting cards in Alausa, Oregun, Olusosun, Ojodu, Agidingbi and Omole wards.

“In Ifako/Ijaye LGA, we are expecting cards for old Ifako, Karaole, Ijaye, new Ifako, Oyemekun, Fagba, Akute, Ishaga, Iju Obawole, Abule Egba, Ijaye, ojokoro, Ijaye Agbado, Kolington, Alakuko, as well as Ajegunle and Akinde wards.

“In Ikorodu, outstanding cards are for Isele 1 and 2, Aga Ijowu, Ipakodo, Imota. In Ajeromi/Ifelodun LGA, we are expecting in Awodiora, Temidire, Ojo, Mosafejo, Tolu

“In Eti-Osa LGA, Lekki, Ikate, Sangotedo, Langbasa, Badore and Ikoyi. In Surulere LG, Adeniran Ogunsanya, Itire and Coker.

“In Amuwo Odofin LGA, there are outstanding cards for Kirikiri, Jakande Housing Estate at Mile 2, Festac, Satellite and Ijegun.

“In Alimosho, we want to urge our people to continue to exercise patience especially in Shasha, Akowonjo, Idimu, Isheri Olofin, Ikotun, Ijegun, Egbe, Agbodo and Ipaja to Ayobo. For Ojo LGA: Sabo Oniba, Ijankini and Ojo. In Lagos Island LGA: Oko Awo, Olowogbowo, Oluwole, Oke arin, and Idumota.

“In Kosofe LGA: Ifako, Solurin, Ikosi, Alapere, Isheri Olowo Ira.

“Somolu, we have yet to get cards for Ladylak.”

Orebiyi said in order for the cards to be distributed more effectively, INEC would move the distribution closer to the polling units on weekends.

He, however, urged the people of Lagos to keep in mind that the deadline for PVCs remained March 8, 2015.

He said, “What we are planning is that by Friday, we will move from the local government office to the polling units. On Fridays and Saturdays, we will be at the polling units so that people will be able to collect their PVCs from near their houses.

“We will also do it on February 27 and February 28 and on March 6, March 7, and 8. We will do another weekend distribution of polling units but during weekdays, people can go to our local government offices to collect the cards.

He said Lagos INEC had received over 12,000 smart card readers and were already being configured for each polling unit.

Jonathan in closed-door meeting with Ogun monarchs

President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday met behind closed-doors with some traditional rulers in Ogun State.

The meeting is believed to be in continuation of his consultation in the South-West ahead of the rescheduled March 28 presidential election.

The brief parley was held inside one of the offices at the Olorunsogo II Power Station in Ogun State.

Jonathan met with them shortly after inaugurating the 750MW power plant built under the Nigerian Integrated Power Project.

The about 20 traditional rulers were led by the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, who is also the Chairman of the Ogun State Council of Traditional Rulers.

Others at the meeting included the Akarigbo of Remo, Oba Michael Sonariwo; and the Olowu of Owu, Oba Dosunmu.

Journalists were, however, not allowed to cover the meeting attended by a few presidential aides.

Immediately they emerged from the meeting, Jonathan posed for a group photograph with the traditional rulers.

Beaming with smile, the President later shook hands with them one after the other before departing the premises.

He returned to the State House, Marina, Lagos, where he was expected to continue consultations and from where he would proceed to meet with some traditional rulers in Oyo State on Saturday (today).

None of those who attended the meeting spoke with journalists.

See What Happened When Kanye West Met Billionaire, Ralph Lauren

This has to be the most adorable photo ever of Kanye West.
To see the very arrogant and erratic rapper look so innocent and cute, is a lovely sight to behold.
The fashion icon, Kanye West met with fashion legend, Ralph Lauren at the ongoing New York fashion week and the aging billionaire was obviously happy to meet Kanye.
Ralph Lauren humbles Kanye by giving him a very gentle pat on the cheek