THEY LOOK LIKE SISTERS,Thats Nadia Buari's Mum

Richest/Most Powerful Women In NollyWood

Four elements contribute to the success of a movie at the box-office. They include good script, experienced director, professional publicist, and most importantly, the big name stars.

Of all the four, there is one a producer should never violate at the market place and that is the ‘star’ aspect of it. There could be a bad script, inexperienced director and not too good publicity for the movie but it is almost impossible to have Return On Investment (ROI) with un-bankable stars.


Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde:

On the list is Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde with box-office gross of N60 million. She made N24 million with Last Flight to Abuja, N6 million from Private Storm and her N30 million share in Ije bring her total earning to N60 million.

This year alone, no actress has made as much as N24 million from a single movie; Funke Akindele would have done so with The Return of Jenifa but the movie hit the box office in 2011.

Omotola, who was reported to have been paid N5 million by Tarila Thompson all in the bid to make his movie a blockbuster, has been described as the biggest box office actress of 2012. She recorded successes back to back but it remains to be seen if she can pull off the box office magic again with Amina and other movies coming in 2013.

Omotola has been an A-list actress even before Genevieve got her first big break and so what has been working for her is the wise investment in her brand. Her enduring presence and unceasing contact with her fans via the social media has made her popular even in an environment where a mother of four like her is not fashionable.


Genevieve Nnaji:
Next is Genevieve Nnaji. Love or hate her, Genny as she is fondly called, has a way with cinema audiences that make them come back again and again for her movies.

So far, Genevieve’s starring in the movies has grossed over N83 million at the box office. Mirror Boy (described by the actress as her first major film and the first to put her at the box-office) made N18 million, while Ije netted N60 million turning out to be Nigeria’s highest grossing movie ever. But Genevieve had to share the money with Omotola, who also acted alongside her. If the sharing formula is 50-50, then Genevieve gets N30 million of the total gross.

Genevieve’s next movie, Tango with Me went on to make N35 million. So, putting all the figures together, Genny remains at the head of the pack. What seem to be working for Genevieve are her enduring power, popularity and social media connection. The actress has been there for over a decade and is still waxing stronger. Her wine seems to taste better with age.

Another plus for Genny is her popularity. Genevieve is hugely popular across Africa and most especially among the youths. Before now, she has been very active on the social media especially Twitter. She even had to put up a Facebook advert after reports emerged that some acts were ahead of her there.



Funke Akindele:
Surprisingly, the third person on the list is Funke Akindele, a young lady who rose to fame in I Need To Know, a TV series, and went on to earn a monstrous fame with Jenifa.

Funke is an unlikely candidate on this list. Now, how can one explain that she is third on a list parading heavy weights like Omoni Oboli, Nse Ikpe-Etim and Stephanie Okereke among others?

So far, Funke has made over N56 million, netting over N20 million in 2012 alone. In The Return of Jenifa, Funke netted N35 million. The movie ran till February 2012. Her movie, Married but Living Single made N9.9 million while Maami made N11 million. The actress is on her way to another cinema glory with a movie, A Wish. Let’s hope she will be able to wave the magical wand again and create a box-office success.

For Funke who recently got married, the plus factor for her is her huge popularity among the masses and elites. Her movie, Jenifa cuts across all social groups with the street parlance in it becoming the mode of communication in social gathering. And as an icing on the cake, Funke has moved upscale, she is now the toast of events organized by the rich and not so rich. Her box office credibility transcends the cinema as all DVDs parading her face turn into gold.



Omoni Oboli:
Omoni Oboli, who is still largely unknown to those who don’t patronise the cinema and social media, is fourth on the list. She is a silent achiever. Before the trio of Genevieve, Omotola and Funke even dreamt of hitting the box office, Omoni Oboli already took the lead. Figurine, her first box office appearance made N13 million while her second effort, Anchor Baby made N18 million bringing her total earning to N31million.

Omoni’s strength is her exclusivity and knack for quality. It is a known fact that if the project is not big and ambitious, Omoni might not do it. The disadvantage of that is, despite her box office credibility, Omoni is still unknown in areas where there is no access to cinemas. Perhaps, that is the reason she tries to make up with the red carpet presence.

For now, the exclusivity is working for Omoni; perhaps her new movie, Broken and other works will introduce a new twist. One other thing that should not be forgotten is the unprecedented publicity of Anchor Baby in 2010. The film also had Omoni at the forefront of meeting and greeting of fans at the cinemas.



Nse Ikpe-Etim:
The fifth slot belongs to Nse Ikpe-Etim. She seems to be the latest sensation in big budget movies. In Mr and Mrs, Nse was a delight, her performance was a reference point and it was a hook that kept drawing people to the cinema while the movie was there.

Mr and Mrs made N6 million while another of her film, Phone Swap made N20 million, making a total of N26 million.

Too early for Nse to cement her place, as she hasn’t done N15 million back-to-back but one thing the actress has made clear is that she has intention of doing that. The leading four acts should be afraid of Nse because her strength lies in her pure acting talent.

Nse is born to act, deemed to be unnecessarily assertive a times, but you can’t accuse her of not knowing her lines. And she pushes her movies with virgour, moving from one cinema to the other.

However, Nse should watch it as many have accused her of being too ‘self-conscious’, a term casually used for budding stars who have ‘over-hyped’ impression of themselves as this could alienate fans who make the box-office count.

Rita Dominic and Stephanie Okereke
Rita Dominic and Stephanie Okereke should readily make the list but they haven’t appeared at the cinemas more than once. Hopefully, Rita will break into the list with The Meeting, Lion of 76 and Street of Calabar while Stephanie already had N10 million under her belt with Through the Glass.

Of course, there are exceptions to the rules. A bankable star makes easier the job of a producer; the absence of one, however, is not a ready-made doom for a movie as Avatar and Slumdog Millionaire (both global box office hits) have shown. But if one would take a risk or err, it’s better to err on the part of caution.

    Wikipedia defines a bankable star to be an actor famous or charismatic enough to be “capable of guaranteeing box-office success simply by showing up in a movie”. It is common knowledge that a Will Smith will sell any movie no matter how bad as long as he has his face on the jacket.

    In Nigeria, some movie stars have proven again and again that they can guarantee return on investment as long as their faces adorn the poster. They are Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Genevieve Nnaji, Omoni Oboli, Funke Akindele and Nse Ikpe-Etim.

Oprah Winfrey Reveals Near Nervous Breakdown

For nearly three decades, media mogul Oprah Winfrey was the queen of daytime television, and she inspired million of people around the world.
But Winfrey - one of the richest, most powerful women in the world - is now revealing that she suffered a near nervous breakdown last year.
Speaking in an interview with "Access Hollywood"'s Shaun Robinson, Winfrey, described the symptoms she experienced.
"It was just sort of speeding and a kind of numbness and going from one thing to the next thing to the next thing," Winfrey said, adding: "I thought … if I don't calm down I'm going be in serious trouble.' I was in the middle of doing voiceovers, you know? And I remember closing my eyes in between each page because looking at the page and the words at the same time was too much stimulation for my brain."
Bush 41 to Wife on 'The Butler': 'Is That Oprah, Honey?'
Winfrey said her epiphany about what was happening to her came in October 2012 when she was doing an interview with "Kony 2012? director Jason Russell. Ten days after Russell's "Kony" video was released, and became a global sensation, in March of last year, a naked and screaming Russell was held down near a San Diego intersection until police arrived. No charges were filed.
As Russell described his very public breakdown, Winfrey says she realized she could relate.
"I was sitting and listening to Jason Russell describe his symptoms …. saying, 'Um, this sounds pretty familiar to me,'" she said.
At the time, Winfrey was struggling to save OWN, her failing TV network. In addition, she was flying across the country to interview celebrities for her show, all while filming her lead role in Lee Daniels' film, "The Butler."
Winfrey told Robinson that it wasn't until her interview for OWN with Black Eyed Peas' singer Fergie, whose father was battling cancer at the time, that she decided to slow down and take better care of herself. That interview aired just days after Oprah's sit-down with Russell

Blackberry Sold for $4.7bn Dollars

                                                                                            
BlackBerry agreed in principal Monday to be acquired by Fairfax Financial, a Canadian insurance company, for $9 a share in a deal worth $4.7 billion in US dollars.
Trading in BlackBerry was halted before the announcement. When it resumed at 2 p.m. EDT, the stock jumped as much as 5 percent before retreating slightly. Prior to the announcement shares in the troubled smartphone maker company were down more than 5 percent.
Fairfax Financial, sometimes called the Berkshire Hathaway of Canada, is a holding company whose primary business is in insurance. Fairfax is also BlackBerry's largest shareholder.

BlackBerry to be acquired in $4.7 billion deal

BlackBerry has entered into a letter of intent with consortium led by Fairfax Financial. CNBC's John Carney, and JJ Burns, president and CEO of JJ Burns & Company, discuss.

 It is led by Prem Watsa, a chemical engineer by training who has run the firm since the mid-1980s.
The press-shy Watsa has long been a supporter of BlackBerry, and his name has been linked with a potential buyout for months

Apple Sells 9M iPhones Over The Weekend, A New Record

Apple shares are up more than 6% in pre-market trading after its announcement about the weekend sales — the first that included its new iPhone 5C and 5S.

Apple Introduces Two New iPhone Models At Product Launch

Analysts expected as many as 8M units to be sold worldwide. That would have handily beat the previous opening weekend record of 5M set last year with the release of the iPhone 5. With the new sales figures, Apples says in an SEC filing that it expects its fiscal Q4 revenues to come in “near the high end of the previously provided range of $34 billion to $37 billion” with gross margins “near the high end of the previously provided range of 36% to 37%.” Demand for the iPhones was “incredible,” CEO Tim Cook says, “and while we’ve sold out of our initial supply of iPhone 5S, stores continue to receive new iPhone shipments regularly. We appreciate everyone’s patience and are working hard to build enough new iPhones for everyone.” Unlike last year, people served by T-Mobile and Japan’s DoCoMo were able to buy the new iPhones on the opening weekend. China also was in on the action; last year customers had to wait 90 days for the iPhone 5 outside of the gray market. In addition to the iPhone news, Apple says that more than 200M iOS devices run its new iOS 7 operating system. That makes it “the fastest software upgrade in history.” Last year about 100M devices upgraded in the weekend when the iOS 6 was introduced.

Emmys 2013 Winners: The Biggest Surprises, Snubs of the Night

                                                                                                               

To many viewers and critics, the 65th Annual Emmy Awards, broadcast live from L.A.'s Nokia Theatre on CBS Sunday, Sept. 22, were a dull affair -- but even though the mood of the show seemed listless and uneven, the actual awards handed out were anything but predictable. Although the victories of Best Comedy and Best Drama -- repeat winner Modern Family and better-than-ever Breaking Bad, respectively -- seemed pre-ordained, winners in many other categories took the crowd by surprise.
"No one in America is winning their office pool!" host Neil Patrick Harris joked. What were a few of the night's biggest surprises at the podium? Check out the roundup below.
PHOTOS: What all the stars wore at the 2013 Emmys

Jeff Daniels of The Newsroom snagged the Outstanding Actor in a drama, besting frontrunners like Breaking Bad's Bryan Cranston, House of Cards' Kevin Spacey and Mad Men's Jon Hamm. In the Outstanding Supporting Actor, Drama category, Boardwalk Empire hunk Bobby Cannavale shockingly edged out Bad's Aaron Paul and Jonathan Banks plus Homeland fave Mandy Patinkin. Downton Abbey's Maggie Smith finally ended her winning streak in the Outstanding Supporting Actress, Drama category when Breaking Bad's Anna Gunn (the talked-about Skyler White) grabbed her first-ever individual trophy.

PHOTOS: Emmys hosts through the ages

Another out-of-left-field victor: Political Animals' Ellen Burnstyn; the beloved veteran actress edged out American Horror Story: Asylum's Sarah Paulson, long considered a lock in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a TV-Movie or Miniseries category.

One of the night's most talked-abot award-winners, Merrit Wever ("I gotta go, bye!" was her acceptance speech) of Nurse Jackie beat the ladies of Modern Family and 30 Rock's Jane Krakowski, too, for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy. Although Julia Louis-Dreyfus' Outstanding Actress in a Comedy (Veep) wasn't much of a shocker, her podium-crashing costar Tony Hale's triumph in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy certainly was; the Arrested Development star rose above the likes of Modern's Family's men as well as Saturday Night Live's Bill Hader.

PHOTOS: Kerry Washington's stuning red carpet style

Scandal fans were crestfallen when star Kerry Washington -- a first-ever nominee -- lost out to perennial Emmys favorite Claire Danes, picking up another gold statue in the Outstanding Actress in a Drama category for Homeland.

Tell Us: What were your biggest Emmys surprises among the winners and losers?

 

4 Blast At Kenya Mall As Two Terrorist Gets killed

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Four thunderous explosions rattled Nairobi's upscale mall Monday, part of a battle between Kenyan troops and al-Qaida-linked terrorists. Top Kenyan officials said two hostage takers, part of "a multinational collection from all over the world," had been killed.
Kenya's interior minister said the evacuation of hostages "has gone very, very well" and that Kenyan officials are "very certain" that there are few if any hostages left in the building.
Interior Minister Joseph Ole Lenku also revised the death toll to 62. Kenyan officials earlier said 59 people have died since the siege on Westgate Mall began on Saturday, while the Red Cross had put the toll at 68, then in a tweet lowered it to 62, saying some bodies had been counted twice.
Dark plumes of smoke rose from the mall for more than an hour after four large explosions rocked the upscale Westlands neighborhood. A person with knowledge of the rescue operation told The Associated Press that the smoke was rising up and out of a large skylight inside the mall's main department and grocery store, Nakumatt, where goods like mattresses may have been lit on fire.
Kenya Chief of Defense forces Gen. Julius Karangi said fighters from an array of nations participated in the attack claimed by al-Shabab, a Somali group allied with al-Qaida.

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"We have an idea who these people are and they are clearly a multinational collection from all over the world," he said.
Karangi said Kenyan forces were in charge of all floors inside the mall, though terrorists could still be hiding inside. Earlier witness reports had indicated that a woman was among the estimated 10 to 15 attackers. Lenku said that instead some male attackers had dressed up like women.
The four explosions were followed by volleys of gunfire, then a thick, dark column of smoke that burned for roughly 90 minutes. Military and police helicopters and one plane circled over the Nairobi mall, giving the upscale neighborhood the feel of a war zone.
On Sunday Kenyan officials announced that "most" hostages had been rescued. But no numbers were given. Kenyan officials have never said how many hostages they thought the attackers had, but have said preserving the hostages' lives is a top priority, greatly complicating the final fight against the attackers.
Kenyans and foreigners were among those confirmed dead, including British, French, Canadians, Indians, a Ghanaian, a South African and a Chinese woman. The UK Foreign Office said Monday it has confirmed the deaths of four British nationals.

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From neighboring Somalia, spokesman Sheik Ali Mohamud Rage for al-Shabab — the militant group that claimed responsibility for the attack — said in an audio file posted on a website that the hostage takers had been ordered to "take punitive action against the hostages" if force was used to try to rescue them.
At the Oshwal Centre next to the mall, the Red Cross was using a squat concrete structure that houses a Hindu temple as a triage center. Medical workers attended to at least two wounded Kenyan soldiers there on Monday.
Al-Shabab said on a Twitter feed, an account that unlike some others appears to be genuine, that the attackers had lots of ammunition. The feed said that Kenya's government would be responsible for any loss of hostages' lives.
A large military assault began on the mall shortly before sundown on Sunday, with one helicopter skimming very close to the roof of the shopping complex as a loud explosion rang out, far larger than any previous grenade blast or gunfire volley. Officials said the siege would soon end and said "most" hostages had been rescued and that officials controlled "most" of the mall. But on Monday the standoff remained.
As the crisis surpassed the 48-hour mark, video taken by someone inside the mall's main department store when the assault began emerged. The video showed frightened and unsure shoppers crouching as long and loud volleys of gunfire could be heard.

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The al-Shabab extremists stormed the mall on Saturday from two sides, throwing grenades and firing on civilians.
Kenyan authorities said they would do their utmost to save hostages' lives, but no officials could say precisely how many people were being held captive. Kenya's Red Cross said in a statement, citing police, that 49 people had been reported missing. Officials did not make an explicit link but that number could give an indication of the number of people held captive.
Al-Shabab said the attack, targeting non-Muslims, was in retribution for Kenyan forces' 2011 push into neighboring Somalia.
___
Associated Press reporters Rodney Muhumuza, Ben Curtis and Jacob Kushner in Nairobi, Kenya and Abdi Guled in Mogadishu, Somalia contributed to this report.

DISGRACEFUL:Cheating Couple Disgraced Publicly In Benue State

They said this happened on Thursday 19th September at Orokam, Obadigbo Local Government area of Benue State.
According to the story, the woman is said to be the wife of a popular school proprietor in the area who was caught cheating days after he died . She lost her husband on Tuesday,
They say according to the Orokam culture, there is an oracle called “ALEKWU” in the town which punishes married women who cheat on their husbands and also deters people from committing atrocities.

2face To Perform At Arsenals Championship Closing,as Arsenal Legend,Robert Pires Confirms Attendance

2face to perform at ARS championship closing, as Arsenal legend, Robert Pires confirms attendance

Nigerian music heavy-weight, 2face Idibia is expected to set the Agege Township Stadium alight this Sunday, September 22^nd, 2013, for the Closing Ceremony of the Airtel Rising Stars Africa Championship.
Also the youngest Nigerian non-inheritor millionaire and winner of the inaugural edition of the Nigeria’s Got Talent (NGT) Television show, Amarachi Uyanne, and the first runner up of the NGT competition, violinist, Godwin Strings are slated to perform at this event. Continue...

Big Brother Africa – The Chase Housemates, Melvin Oduah and Beverly Osu will also add colour to the occasion as they storm the venue of the championship to support talented kids drawn from 16 African countries. Meanwhile, Arsenal legend, Robert Pires, has also confirmed his attendance of the closing event. He will arrive Nigeria on Saturday, September 21 for the Grand finale..

Nigeria’s topnotch songster, 2face will light up the stage and take excitement to a higher level as he performs hits from his rich repertoire of songs while Amarachi Uyanne and Godwin Strings will also relive moments of the maiden edition of the NGT show as they perform to thrill guests with what some enthusiasts have dubbed avant-garde entertainment. 
  This year’s edition of the ARS kicked off Monday at the Agege Township Stadium with host Nigeria recording respective victories in the opening group matches against Kenya female and DRC male teams.

The Airtel Rising Stars Africa Championship, which kicked off on Monday, is part of the Airtel Rising Stars programme, a soccer talent initiative that has focused on identifying and nurturing soccer talent.

Broadcast by SuperSport and Canal Plus, the Airtel football competition provides the perfect platform to spot top soccer talents from the continent.

Over 600 aspiring footballers travelled to Lagos to participate in the Airtel Rising Stars Africa Championship. The countries that are participating are - Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar, Malawi, Ghana, Zambia, Gabon, DRC, Burkina Faso, Chad, Congo Brazzaville, Uganda, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda and Sierra Leone.

Segun Ogunsanya, the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Airtel Nigeria, said: "Airtel has signed broadcasting pact with SuperSport and Canal Plus to ensure that young aspiring footballers get the Pan African media exposure they deserve. Fans across the continent have the opportunity to view the dazzling skills of these extremely talented players."

Mr. Ogunsanya confirmed that as part of its partnership with DSTV’s sports channel, SuperSport, the Boys and Girls final matches will be broadcast live on Sunday September 22nd. 

The best players of the tournament will participate in football clinics under the supervision of the best coaches of the Arsenal FC and Manchester United soccer schools. The clinics will be held in April 2014 in Lagos (Nigeria) and Lubumbashi (Democratic Republic of Congo).

The Airtel Rising Stars Africa U-17 soccer tournament is a unique pan-African initiative of Airtel Africa designed to create a pool of talents to feed the national football teams of African countries.

Tests:New iPhones Less Durable Than iPhone 5

NEW YORK (AP) -- As Apple pitches its newest smartphones, users may find something lacking compared with last year's model: They could break more easily. 
SquareTrade, a provider of protection plans for gadgets, tested five smartphones, including Apple's new iPhones, to see if they could withstand drops, dunks and other common hazards. Its finding: The latest models aren't as durable as last year's iPhone 5.
The biggest loser, however, was Samsung's Galaxy S4, which failed to work after being submerged in water and being dropped 5 feet off the ground, according to San Francisco-based SquareTrade.
The phone that withstood SquareTrade's torture test best was Google Inc.'s Moto X. The Moto X is the first phone designed with the Internet company as Motorola's new owner. Released in August, the Moto X is also the first smartphone assembled in the U.S.
"We were expecting that at least one of the new iPhone models would up its game, but surprisingly, it was the Moto X that proved most forgiving of accidents," said Ty Shay, chief marketing officer at SquareTrade.
Officials from Apple Inc., Samsung Electronics Co. and Google Inc. didn't immediately return email messages for comment.
Apple started selling two new iPhones on Friday. The iPhone 5S sports a fingerprint sensor, a better camera and a faster processor. A less expensive version, the iPhone 5C, offers consumers a wider choice of colors and has a better front-facing camera than the iPhone 5.
With every upgrade Apple has made, the latest model has usually been more durable than the previous one, based on drop tests SquareTrade has done over the past few years, Shay said. But that wasn't the case this time.
SquareTrade reviewed each device based on eight factors, including the materials of the device's front and back panels, its size and its weight. It also tested the device's ability to withstand drops from 5 feet and being dunked in water for 10 seconds. SquareTrade says it uses robots to do the testing to ensure consistency.
SquareTrade rates phones on a scale of 1 to 10, with a higher number reflecting a higher risk of the device breaking. All five phones tested were considered to have a medium risk of breakage, but where they fell on the scale differed.
The Galaxy S4 scored 7, the worst of the five tested. The S4 ended up not functioning, with its screen coming half off, according to a video released by SquareTrade.
The iPhone 5S, made of aluminum and glass, scored 5.5, while the 5C, with a plastic housing, had a 6 rating. Both were worse than the 5 rating scored by iPhone 5.
In particular, Shay noted that the iPhone 5C was more damaged when it was dropped than the iPhone 5. And the iPhone 5S also failed a slide test. It slid off of a table when it was pushed, unlike the other devices tested. By comparison, the iPhone 5C slid a little over 3 feet, while the iPhone 5 slid just over 2 feet.

The Moto X had a rating of 4.5, surviving the tests with only the slightest dent. Shay noted that the phone's innovative rounded back molded to the shape of a user's hand makes it easier for the consumer to grip.

Apple's New I-Phones To Set An Opening Weekend Sales Record

The company has to sell more than 5M iPhones globally to beat the first weekend record it set last year when it introduced the iPhone 5. And Apple watchers are optimistic that will happen, with estimates ranging from 6M to close to 8M, after seeing the long lines of customers in major markets eager to lay their hands on the latest models: the iPhone 5C and 5S. A 7M-to-8M result appears “doable,” Cowen And Co. analyst Timothy Arcuri says — largely because the new iPhones are available to a broader array of consumers. Unlike last year, people served by TMobile and Japan’s DoCoMo can buy the new iPhones on the opening weekend. There’s also China, where customers had to wait 90 days for the iPhone 5 outside of the grey market. Initial sales likely will favor the lower-priced iPhone 5C, the analyst says, estimating that the there are about twice as many units of that model available vs the top-of-the-line (and more expensive) 5S. Apple likely will change the mix in December to favor the 5S leading to combined sales of about 50M. “Our call continues to be that units will be okay but not great” with higher profit margins, Arcuri says. If he’s right, then Apple’s stock price “will continue to move higher through year-end.” Shares closed Friday at $467.41, down 33.2% over the last 12 months. Investors fear that Apple won’t be able to come up with a new blockbuster product — and worry about the iPhone’s declining market share against a broad array of phones powered by Google’s Android system. Many hoped that the iPhone 5C — which costs about $549 in the U.S. without a phone company subsidy — would cost closer to $400 to appeal to a broader audience. But Apple CEO Tim Cook told Bloomberg BusinessWeek last week that his company’s “not in the junk business.”

Miley Cyrus Performs at iHeartRadio Music Festival

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Miley Cyrus can't stop.
The pop singer was a crowd favorite at the iHeartRadio music festival day event Saturday in Las Vegas. Before she hit the stage, the crowd of a few hundred chanted: "Miley! Miley! Miley!"
The 20-year-old emerged onstage in all white, wearing a tight corset and high wasted shorts that revealed some of her backside.
Her four-song set opened with the anthemic "We Can't Stop," where people onstage were dressed in flower, mushroom and rainbow costumes. She gyrated and slapped a dwarf-sized dancer's butt onstage. She followed the colorful performance with "Party In the USA."
But it was her emotional rendition of "Wrecking Ball" that was her set's highlight. Cyrus' mascara was running as she left the stage after the song and the performance comes days after she announced she was no longer engaged to actor Liam Hemsworth. She thanked the audience for helping the song top the Billboard Hot 100 chart this week.

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"I couldn't have done it without all you guys," she said.
Cyrus broke a record with the debut of the song's provocative video, which features her in the nude. It became the fastest music video to reach 100 million views on VEVO.
The wild child singer said she knows "things I'm doing that's getting me into trouble and it's just me doing what my heart and soul is telling me what to do."
Everything she's done is "inspired by the music," she said.
Cyrus, who will release her new album "Bangerz" next month, also sang a cover of Melanie Safka's "Look at What They've Done to My Song." The guitar tune featured lyrics like "They think I'm half insane" and "I wish I could find a book to live in."

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Cyrus has been added as one of the main performers for the second night at iHeartRadio's festival at the MGM Grand Arena, joining a list that includes Justin Timberlake, Bruno Mars, Paul McCartney and Drake. Elton John, Katy Perry and Chris Brown performed Friday.

Saturday's day line-up also featured Jason Derulo, Avril Lavigne, The Wanted, The Band Perry and others.

Why The Gold Iphone 5s Is A Hit

                                                         

Apple’s decision to build a gold-colored iPhone 5s is about more than just offering another color to consumers. For one thing, the margins are quite high on the device, and the more colors it offers, the more money it can make. But there’s more to the gold iPhone than meets the eye at first blush: it’ll be the bestselling iPhone yet.
As history has proven, Apple’s customers really, really like when the company delivers new colors to its handsets. When Apple started selling the white iPhone, for example, it became an immediate hit.


Now Apple is breaking into the mobile space with a golden iPhone. And I’m here to tell you, beyond a shadow of doubt, that the golden iPhone will quickly establish itself as the bestselling iPhone ever.

Why the gold iPhone 5s is a hit

So, why might that be? It has everything to do with the color, of course. The device has, as mentioned, the luxury of being the new color on the market, which lends immediate appeal to consumers. And since Apple is pushing the gold color even more than the others, you can bet that all that marketing help will spur more sales.
But perhaps the biggest reason the gold iPhone will be successful has nothing to do with Apple and everything to do with the average consumer’s desire to have a product in their pocket that reflects well upon them.
"What customers want is a device that says something about them"
One of the most important moves Apple has made over the last decade was to bring the technology industry out of the geeky niche it was living in and into the mainstream. Starting with the iPod and then extending to Macs, iPhones, and now iPads, Apple has realized that what customers really want is a great-looking device that says something about them. To own a Mac means a person is stylish and a success. And they want the world to know it.

A gold iPhone is another one of those devices that says something about the person who owns it. I can see the gold iPhone finding its way into the hands of the fashion-minded who want a device that reflects their personality or personal style. It sounds rather cliché to say that an iPhone can be a functional fashion accessory, but believe it or not, it’s exactly that. And more people than ever care about how an iPhone melds into their personal style.
Of course, there’s also a bit of an ego involved here. Some folks just like to show others that they have the latest and greatest iPhone, and the best way to differentiate their purchase from those old, outdated iPhone 5 units is to get the gold color. Don’t think some people think like that? Think again.
In an odd way, smartphone purchases can teach us lessons about each other. There was a time when having technology products was simply for those who wanted to do something and get work done. Nowadays, technology products are an extension of who we are and what we want to convey to the world.
And it’s that reality – the very fact that people want to make a statement with their smartphones – that will make the gold iPhone a winner.

Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom might split soon

It's only a matter of time now. Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom have been estranged for weeks now, and sources say it's more a question of when, rather than if, the couple will announce a formal split. As revealed in the Sept. 30 issue of Us Weekly, the spouses of nearly four years no longer speak and are basically living separate lives at this point

Kim Kardashian shows off casual look

                                                                                                                                                                Kim Kardashian's post-baby evolution continues. Over three months after the premature birth of daughter North West, the suddenly scarce reality star, 32, made another rare, low-key outing in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Sept. 18. Heading into City Hall with her assistant, the first-time mom kept things supremely casual in a loose gray t-shirt, an open denim button-down and baggy grey combat pants

New Video:Top of the world by D-banj

How Ibori Gave Me $15M Bribe

                                                                                                          

DRESSED in black - trousers, jacket and shoes - with a white shirt and red tie, the former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) boss was led into the courtroom by one of a judicial clerks around 2.25 p.m.

  Mr. Nuhu Ribadu performed the traditional oath swearing by placing his left hand on the Holy Quran as he was led to go through the lines to affirm that he would be giving truthful evidence.

  Within a minute, Crown Prosecutor Sasha Wass started her cross-examination. Looking relaxed, calm and often responding to the prosecutor’s questions with a smile and “yes, mum,” Ribadu held the court spellbound as he disclosed how Ibori was ‘desperate’ for him to take a $15 million cash bribe which the former governor allegedly gave him in Senator Andy Ubah’s house in the presence of the then Head of Operations, Ibrahim Lamorde and another official of the EFCC, James Garba. Lamorde is now Chairman of the EFCC.

  He also told the stunned courtroom how Ibori later allegedly sent four hired killers after him following the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s rise to power and the then Attorney-General of the Federation, Michael Aondoakaa, let the former oil-rich Delta State governor off the hook. Ribadu disclosed further, how, after he refused taking the alleged cash bribe, Ibori desperately begged him to “just pocket the $15 million and send me a clearance letter.”

  Ribadu, who gave graphic details of how on a day Ibori was holed up at the Abuja residence of a former Kwara State Governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki, was moved to shed some tears towards the end of his over one hour of cross-examination.

  He claimed that two assassination attempts were made by Ibori’s people on his life, one in Jos and the other in Abuja. He further claimed that Ibori promised he would “be dismissed from the Police Force” and removed as “EFCC Chairman,” the moment the administration of the late Yar’Adua came to power.

  “Ibori was more influential” when Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s government handed over power to the new administration in May 2007, Wass said.

  The following is the excerpt of the dialogue that ensued between Wass and Ribadu, as the latter answered the former’s questions from the witness box:

Wass: I want to ask you please, about the post of governor.   What sort of power do governors have?

Ribadu: The governors have executive power ... are immune from prosecution while in office.

I want to ask you about James Ibori, did you investigate him? How did you come to investigate him?

 It came from petitions from the ordinary people of Delta State.

  Asked how many times Delta people petitioned his office and who initiated EFCC’s investigations, Ribadu said: “I will say about five to 10 petitions. We also carried out our own investigations and gathered intelligence and information using our field officers and from banks.”

   Asked what date the formal investigation into Ibori began, Ribadu replied: “It’s a date I can’t remember.”

As far as you are aware, did Mr. Ibori know he was under investigation? 

He said he was aware

How did you know he was aware?

Ribadu: He got in touch with me.

  Ribadu said as the end of his second term was approaching, and knowing that he could no longer be shielded by the immunity clause, Ibori became anxious and was desperate to bribe his way out.

Wass: I want to ask you in particular, April 25, 2007, can you help us with what happened?

Ribadu: At the time, James Ibori asked me to take money from him to stop the investigation.

  Ribadu disclosed further that Ibori wanted to come to his house to hand over the cash, but he refused and he (the former) suggested they should meet at the EFCC office. Ibori rejected this suggestion as “he didn’t want anybody to see him,” Ribadu said.

  Asked if he informed anyone else about his conversations with Ibori, Ribadu said he told his officials and alerted the Central Bank of Nigeria.

  Asked why he thought Ibori offered $15 million, Ribadu said it was because Delta State had an allocation of about $1 billion and “James wasted or took about half of that.”

Wass: What happened after the money was handed over at Mr. Ubah’s house? 

Ribadu: They - Ibrahim Lamorde and James Garba- drove directly to the Central Bank of Nigeria.

  Meanwhile, Oando Nigeria Plc yesterday issued a statement on Ibori’s trial and its alleged links to him, saying: “As Southwark Crown Court in London proceedings are underway against Mr. James Ibori (known as ‘confiscation proceedings’), ex-Governor of Delta State in Nigeria, aimed making Mr. Ibori forfeit assets worth approximately £90 million to the Crown.

  “These proceedings started on Monday, September 16, since when Oando Plc has been mentioned several times by a prosecutor.

  “Mr. Ibori was convicted in 2012 of Fraud and Money Laundering. At his trial, he pleaded guilty to the charges and was convicted on that basis. Because he pleaded guilty, none of the allegations put forward in the prosecution’s case were ever tested.

  “Now, we have situation where the Crown prosecutor is using untested evidence as the basis of its case in the confiscation proceedings. The prosecutor is presenting this evidence as factual and true, including, unbelievably, statements made by Mr. Ibori – a convicted criminal to the effect that either he, or his family own 30 per cent in Oando or in another statement ‘beneficial interest in Ocean & Oil.’

  “These contradictory statements were not tested in the first court case and not can they be tested in the confiscation proceedings, as the defendant has elected not to participate. This is a dilemma for Oando as it is not a party to the proceedings – it is not the accused, the defendant or a witness. As Oando does not have a right to be heard, it cannot challenge the prosecution’s evidence where it touches upon Oando, for example by asking the following:

 • ‘Exactly which company does Ibori say he owned 30 per cent of?’

 • ‘Why are you making sensational statements about a supposed shareholding when in your own evidence you say Mr. Ibori’s statements are untrue?’

 • Why do you allege he owns 30 per cent of the company while also admitting that he only has about 400 shares in Oando Plc? How do you account for the disparity between the company’s own share register and the statements you are making in court?

  “Of its own volition, Oando approached the Metropolitan Police sometime in 2012 when it became apparent that the company’s name had been mentioned in the Crown prosecution case in relation to an alleged Ibori shareholding and transfer of money.

  “Oando made available to the Metropolitan Police evidence of Mr. Ibori’s shareholding of the company at the time, which was approximately 400 shares. We also presented evidence that the transfers of money to Ocean and Oil Services Ltd to an Ibori controlled company was as a result of a legitimate foreign exchange transactions and without any knowledge at the time that the company was related to Ibori. Furthermore, there was no evidence of any transfer from Oando Plc to the Ibori controlled company.

  “This evidence was ignored by the Crown it was not made available to the court and the prosecution is now trying to portray the payments made by Ocean and Oil Services Ltd as payments made by Oando Plc. Yesterday, to get around this hurdle of not having any links between Oando Plc and Ibori, the prosecution witness, Detective Constable Clerk, misled the court by saying Ocean and Oil Services and Oando Plc are “…the same company under a different name…,” clearly trying to establish a link that does not exist between Oando and Ibori.

  “Oando as a responsible corporate with obligations to its shareholders will pursue all legal avenues available to right this wrong and seek compensation for any losses it incurs as a consequence of this inappropriate course of action.

  “The UK prosecutor is making damaging statements about a very substantial oversees company without any reasonable evidence while our company cannot defend itself in return. This insidious grandstanding cannot continue. It is leading to unfounded speculation that we are determined to bring to an end. At this time, we have our counsel in court, to intervene as “a friend of the court” if any damaging statements are made in relation to Oando.”

Sambo Takes Over Negotiation With Asuu

 

 

 

 

 

 

VICE-President Namadi Sambo last night met with the national leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in an effort to resolve the lingering strike by the university teachers.  This followed the stalemate of the previous negotiations with the Federal Government officials led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, (SGF).

   The ASUU delegation was led by the President, Dr. Nasir Fagge, his two predecessors, Dr. Dipo Fasina, Dr. Abdullahi Sule-Kano and Fagge’s deputy. The government’s delegation was led by the Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike with the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof Julius Okojie, with Vice Chancellors of Bayero University Kano (BUK), University of Ibadan (UI) and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Bauchi, Profs. Abdulrasheed Abubakar, Isaac Adewole and Muhammed Hamisu Muhammed.

   Both parties were reluctant to discuss the outcome of the meeting, which lasted for more than two hours in the VP’s conference hall.

   ASUU president who spoke under intense pressure from newsmen said: “We’ve just had a meeting with the Vice President and he has given us a message to our members, and we said that as messengers that we are, we are going to deliver the message faithfully to our members and then they will take the decision.”

   “I know Nigerians are expecting solution to the strike, we also want a solution, but I have been given a message to our members. The message is not for Nigerians, it is for our members.

   “If I deliver the message, our principal will decide and we will get back to the Ministry of Education within this week,” Fagge added.

   Wike explained that the purpose of the meeting was to find a lasting solution to the crisis to ensure that students go back to school.

   According to him, the parties had a fruitful deliberation. “One is quite hopeful that ASUU is committed, they have the passion and that there is the need for us to move the education sector forward.”

Kerry Washington named World's Best Dressed Woman by People

Actress Kerry Washington has been named the 2013 ‘World’s Best Dressed Woman’ by People Magazine. People said they picked her because of her great sense of style.

"There has been a trend this year in lady-like fashion and I think she is almost single-handedly responsible for it.” People magazine Executive Editor, Elizabeth Sporkin said

Actress Jennifer Lawrence was named the celebrity with the best high fashion style while actress Jessica Chastain was named best in red carpet style. Solange Knowles got top marks for style risk-taking and confidence, Zoe Saldana was named the best in denim style and actress Lily Collins was named the best for up-and-coming style. Emma Stone won praise for her classic style & timeless look, while Nicole Richie was named best in trend-setting style.

New Music: Kcee - Pull Over ft Wizkid

New music from Kcee featuring Wizkid. Listen to it below and tell us what you think...

Police Lied About My Rescue Says Archbishop kattey

The anglican bishop of the niger delta north, Rev.Ignatius kattey,has said police lied by claiming they rescued him from his abductor. He appealed to urgently review the security situation in the country with a view to taking practical steps to curb criminal activities.
Meanwhile, notorious kidnap king-pin in delta state, simply known as kelvin who has been declared wanted by the police, has given the federal government 60 days ultimatum to grant amnesty to kidnappers and address alleged sufferings of the urhobo people.In edo state
stakeholders including traditional rulers civil society organisations, youth groups and vigilante organisations yesterday called for an enhanced police-residents relationship to reduce cases of crimes. Kattey who was released by his abductors after nine days of captivity
in the forest, said the political leadership in the country must begin to be sensitive to the plights of the governed by carrying out basic responsibilities of government to her citizens. The archbishop while narrating a very unpleasant experience in the den of abductors, frowned
at the allegation by the River state police command that it facilitated his rescue." The police did not rescue me and my wife.That the police rescued me and my wife is not true. I saw the police for the first time two days ago. The police public relations officer is telling lies.
The commissioner of police apologized yesterday(Tuesday),"he said. Kattey explained that his experience and those of others that had suffered similar fate, has shown that the persons involved in kidnapping and other related crimes are Nigerians are hungry and are in very serious
need of livelihood. He urged governments at all levels to be sensitive to the plights of the citizens so that crimes like kidnapping could be easily checked. The Archbishop narrated that he was fed once daily and tied to a tree throughout the time he was held captive. The cleric
said his abductors deliberately held him for nine days believing that the river state governor will pay a sum of 100 million naira ransom for his release." I was under a difficult condition. I was under the rain and sun in the forest. I was being moved from place to place. I was fed once
a day. I was given pure water, fast food and boli(roasted plantain).I slept in the rain. My chasuble will get soaked an dry on me.I laid in water. I had no choice. They tied my legs," he said. He said some of the persons involved in kidnapping are adequately educated but lacked the enabling
environment to positively express themselves." But regrettably they have yielded themselves to evil to cause Nigeria and her dwellers pain." The archbishop, who said he has forgiven his abductors, urged Nigerians to collectively make concerted effort to curb prevailing insecurity in the country.
The wanted kidnapper, Kelvin, who spoke on Tuesday evening at kokori, Ethiope East Local Council, said the reason behind kidnappings in Delta and beyond is to draw the attention of FG to the sufferings of the people of kokori and urhobo at large." The reason we are here (kidnapping) today is because
of the continous cheating of our people by the FG. The federal and the state governments have been making us suffer and now we want them to hear us because over 50 years now, they have been drilling oil from our community(kokori),which is the second best oil in this country, yet we have nothing to
show for it. The community has no road. They do wooden bridges in areas that need a formidable bridge that will last for a long time." There is hunger everywhere, graduates have no job. Soon we want the government to listen to us. Infact, we are giving the FG 60 days ultimatum to listen to us or else we
will shut down all the well heads in the area," Kevin said.

Would you rock Nicki Minaj's new fashion line?

The rap star models her new line of colourful clothes which will be available at Kmart from October. Nicki shared the promotional photos on her instagram page yesterday to give fans a peek at what to expect. Would you rock her line...? Kinda like it...

SHOCKING DEFEAT.But Jose mourinho still confident in his team

Jose Mourinho thinks Chelsea will still finish in the top two in their Champions League group

 

 

 

                    

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho remains confident that his side will qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League, despite their loss at home to Basel.

The Swiss side came from a goal behind to win 2-1 on Wednesday night, ending the Blues' 29-match unbeaten home run in Champions League group-stage matches.
Mourinho's men had been seen as hot favourites to qualify from a group which also includes Steaua Bucharest and Schalke but they now have work to do after the unexpected setback.
However, Mourinho said: "The objective of finishing in the top two in the group phase and to go to the next stage of the Champions League is an objective that is not lost - far from it.

"We lost three points that we must get somewhere. Probably we have to go to win at Basel."

Jose Mourinho

"It's an objective we're going to fight for and it's an objective that I believe very, very much that we're going to achieve.
"We lost three points that we must get somewhere. We must get them, (from) Basel, or Schalke, or Bucharest, or all of them, or some of them.
"Normally you have to win the matches at home and get a few points away.

Jamie Carragher, Jamie Redknapp and Michael Ballack look at what went wrong for Chelsea after their shock defeat against Basel

"Now we must win six points at home, Schalke and Steaua, but we have also to win points away. Probably we have to go to win at Basel to compensate for the defeat."
Mourinho insists he is happy with his striking options and says he is expecting improvement from new-boy Samuel Eto'o, who has arrived from Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala.
"The sharpness, that click to score, we have to wait," said Mourinho. "But he's a great player and he will score goals."

We never doubted Duncan Mighty‘s music skills and maybe we should also be respecting his bank account a little more…



The very talented Highlife singer who recently joined the Instagram craze, showed off his 2012 Mercedes Benz E-Class convertible (and of course he had to pull the top open just to make sure we clearly got the message).



A new toy like that costs about N10m. You don’t ball easy when you’re Port Harcourt’s first son…