Mo Abudu, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of EbonyLife TV, and Nollywood star Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde a.k.a, have been named among 50 women making an impact in showbiz by Variety magazine.

According to Variety, a weekly American entertainment trade magazine, the 50 women on the list are doing extraordinary things on the worldwide stage with special focus on the entertainment industry.

Abudus profile on the magazines website; Variety.com read: Abudu used her star-making springboard as the face of daytime talkie Moments With Mo to launch the EbonyLife empire.

With a film production unit and upscale lifestyle TV network; shes been dubbed the Oprah of Africa.

As a woman in a male-dominated industry, Ive had to be strong, focused and relentless and work twice as hard as the men around me, she says.

Determined to push for gender parity in the Nigerian biz, she estimates that nearly 80 per cent of key positions at EbonyLife are filled by women, Variety wrote.

Jalade-Ekeinde, one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time Magazine in 2013, was described as a Nollywood icon.

Variety wrote: With more than 300 acting credits to her name, Ekeinde is an icon of Nigerias prolific Nollywood film biz.

Although she says that, at heart, I think I am an activist first.

An ambassador for the UNs World Food Program and campaigner for Amnesty Intl., shes used her big-screen platform to drive her humanitarian goals.

Her next step is developing a film village in the former slave port of Badagry, where she wants young Nigerians to hone their filmmaking skills while learning about our rights and future as Africans, they said.

Reacting to the news, Abudu excitedly shared a post on Thursday on her instagram page @moabudu, writing:

Happy International Womens Day! I am happy to share this good news with you all that I have been listed in The Variety Magazine 2018 International Impact Report, as one of the 50 women during extraordinary things on the global stage.

Thank you @variety for the honour. May this be your year of GREAT PROGRESS Ladies.

The list, which was compiled to mark International Womens Day, also features British singer Adele, Hollywood stars; Nicole Kidman, Lupita Nyongo, and Muccia Prada, creative director at Prada.

Other prominent inclusions include Harry Potter author J.K. Rowlings, British actress Emma Watson, Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot, CEO Atresmedia Mercedes Gamero and British screenwriter Jane Goldman.

The Variety Magazine 2018 International Impact Report is the first of its kind and it is aptly tagged Showbiz Women Prevail (and Persist) Around the Globe.

They wrote: Its not always easy to be a woman in this world, let alone a showbiz leader that happens to be one.

There are the usual leadership obstacles to overcome, plus downright sexism and resistance in certain pockets of the planet. Yet, these women persist.

In honor of International Womens Day on March 8, Variety presents its first International Womens Impact Report.

It is an outgrowth of our annual Womens Impact Report, with a singularly global focus, Variety said

Source: NAN

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Thursday that African countries should be careful not to forfeit their sovereignty when they accept loans from China, the continents biggest trading partner.

Tillerson is using his first diplomatic trip to the continent to bolster security alliances on a continent increasingly turning to Beijing for aid and trade.

He may also seek to smoothen relations after U.S. President Trump reportedly dismissed some African nations as shithole countries in January. Trump later denied making the comment.

We are not in any way attempting to keep Chinese dollars from Africa, Tillerson told a news conference in the Ethiopian capital. It is important that African countries carefully consider the terms of those agreements and not forfeit their sovereignty.

The United States is the leading aid donor to Africa but China surpassed it as a trade partner in 2009. Beijing has pumped billions into infrastructure projects, though critics say the use of Chinese firms and labor undermines their value.

Tillerson said Chinese investments do not bring significant job creation locally and criticised how Beijing structures loans to African government.

If a government accepts a Chinese loan and gets into trouble, he said, it can lose control of its own infrastructure or its own resources through default. He did not give examples.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, visiting Zimbabwe on Thursday, told reporters it was inappropriate for Tillerson to criticise Chinas relationship with African countries.

It was not appropriate to criticise the relations of his hosts when he was a guest there with another country, he said. Many African governments enjoy close ties with both Washington and Beijing.

Kenya, for example, inaugurated a $3.2 billion railway funded by China last year. For the last three years, Kenya has received more than $100 million annually in U.S. security assistance.

Asked about Tillersons criticism of Chinas approach on the continent, Kenyas foreign affairs minister Monica Juma said: This country is engaging with partners from across the world driven by our own interests and for our own value.

Tillerson arrived in Ethiopia, Africas second most populous nation, on Wednesday and visited the African Union headquarters on Thursday. The complex was funded and built by China and is seen as a symbol of Beijings thrust for influence and access to the continents natural resources.

Ethiopia is home to some of Beijings biggest investments, from a railway to Djibouti that opened last year to factories and industrial parks.

Earlier this week, Tillerson criticised Chinas approach to Africa which he said encouraged dependency through opaque contracts and predatory loan practices.

Ethiopias prime minister resigned suddenly last month and a state of emergency was imposed but protests in the restive Oromia region have continued.

Tillerson said after meeting his Ethiopian counterpart Workneh Gebeyehu that the answer to political turmoil in Ethiopia was greater freedoms and said state of emergency should be lifted as quickly as possible.

Tillerson reiterated previous calls for African states to cut ties with North Korea.

North Korea has more than a dozen embassies on the continent. The Trump administration has said that Pyongyang earns hard currency from arms deals with African government and the trafficking of wildlife parts from Africa.

Tillerson is due to fly to Djibouti, host to military bases owned by the U.S., China, Japan, France, and Italy.

He will then visit Kenya, a key U.S. ally in the fight against al Shabaab Islamist militants in Somalia, before traveling to Chad and Nigeria, which are also battling to contain Islamist insurgents.

Analysts say Trump has focused mainly on security concerns in Africa at a time when China, Turkey and other nations are ramping up diplomatic and business links.

When you look at the set of countries that are being visited I think it kind of reinforces the perception that security, indeed, is the overwhelming focus, said Brahima Coulibaly, the director of the Africa Growth Initiative at Brookings Institution.

Source: NAN

On Friday, it was reported that rapper and music mogul Rick Ross was rushed to the hospital following a possible heart attack of complications from pneumonia.

Ross had supposedly been found unresponsive in his home and was placed on an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machine (which is used to aid in heart and lung functions), though his friend Fat Trel denied that Ross was on life support and a family member claimed he hadnt been hospitalized at all.

Now, TMZ is reporting that Ross has been released from the hospital and that hes receiving care at his residence.

Despite the denials about the severity of whatever was going on, TMZ maintains that Ross was having respiratory issues that turned out to be heart-related.

As noted by Entertainment Weekly, Ross has a history of seizures and had recently begun dieting and exercising more often in the last few years.

Source: AvCLUB

Source: NAN

Adult-film actress Stormy Daniels has sued President Donald Trump , alleging he never signed a nondisclosure agreement to keep her quiet about an intimate relationship between them.

Trump has denied having an affair with Daniels.

Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles claiming the agreement is invalid and she is free to publicly discuss her relationship with Trump.

The lawsuit, which Cliffords attorney Michael Avenatti published in a tweet, says that she signed both the agreement and a side letter using her stage name on October 28, 2016, days before the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Trumps attorney Michael Cohen signed the document the same day, but Trump never signed the document, the lawsuit claims.

The hush agreement as it is called in the lawsuit refers to Trump as David Dennison and Clifford as Peggy Peterson. The side letter agreement reveals the true identities of the parties as Clifford and Trump, according to the lawsuit.

Clifford asks in the lawsuit for the Los Angeles County Superior Court to declare the agreement and side agreement invalid and unenforceable.

Adult-film actress Stephanie Clifford, also known as Stormy Daniels, poses for pictures at the end of her striptease show in Gossip Gentleman club in Long Island, New York, U.S., February 23, 2018. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Avenatti was not immediately available for comment.

According to the lawsuit, Clifford and Trump had an intimate relationship that lasted from the summer of 2006 well into 2007, including meetings in Lake Tahoe and at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

Daniels was quoted in a 2011 interview with In Touch Weekly magazine that she had an affair with Trump after they met at a Lake Tahoe golf tournament in 2006, not long after Trumps wife, Melania, had given birth to their son, Barron.

Cohen has said he paid Clifford $130,000 of his own money in 2016, the year Trump was elected president, but said neither the Trump Organization nor Trumps campaign was a party to the transaction, though he declined to say publicly what it was for.

The lawsuit said the 2016 hush agreement called for $130,000 to be paid into the trust account of Cliffords then-attorney. In return, Clifford was not to disclose any confidential information about Trump.

The suit alleges Cohen has tried to keep Clifford from talking about the relationship as recently as Feb. 27, 2018.

The attempts to intimidate Ms. Clifford into silence and shut her up in order to protect Mr. Trump continue unabated, the lawsuit said.

Reuters

Source: NAN

Four-time Grammy winner Lionel Richie cemented his legacy in Hollywood Wednesday, plunging his feet and hands into a wet paving slab at the forecourt of the iconic TCL Chinese Theatre.

The 68-year-old R

Plateau United believe they could overturn a 2-4 loss to Tunisias Etoile du Sahel in the second leg of the CAF Champions League, which will take place at New Stadium Jos on 16 March.

The team vowed a comeback as they retweeted Radio host David Kings tweet on Wednesday, rallying them to victory in the second leg.

David King wrote: The boys were shocked and awed in Souse but they recovered in time to claw back two goals. Etoile du Sahel 4-2 @plateauutdfc We can finish the job at the New Jos Stadium. Just believe!

Plateau United shared the dream:

Retweeted David King ():

The boys were shocked and awed in Souse but they recovered in time to

Plateau United FC (@plateauutdfc)

A late rally by the team on Tuesday could not stop them from crashing 2-4 to hosts Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia in the CAF Champions League first leg encounter in Sousse.

The Tunisian side enjoyed an easy first half by scoring three goals in 20 minutes.

Amro Marei opened scores in the second minute, while Amine Chermiti added two goals in the third and eighth minutes for the first half to end 3-0 in the hosts favour.

The 14th minute substitution of goalkeeper Odah Okiemute for Dele Ajiboye seemed to stabilize the visitors rear until the hosts scored the fourth goal in the 54th minute.

Plateau United, fought back to reduce the tally, first with Raphael Ayagwas penalty kick in the 70th minute.

Eight minutes to the end of the game, Tosin Omoyele turned home substitute Patrick Enejis assist to further reduce the margin ahead of the second leg game.

Source: NAN

Enyimba International Football Club on Wednesday in Cotonou won their first leg match in a CAF Confederation Cup first round fixture by beating Energie FC of Republic of Benin 2-0.

Two goals very early in the game gave the former African champions a valuable result which will serve them in good stead in the second leg match on March 18.

The Aba-based side who drew bye in the preliminary round owing to their record on the continent took the lead through an own goal by Aime Santou after three minutes.

Austin Oladapo utilised Stanley Dimgbas cross six minutes later to extend their lead and cruise to an important win ahead of the second leg game in Calabar.

However, the other Nigerian representatives in the competition, Akwa United FC of Uyo, lost by a lone goal to Al Ittihad of Libya at the Alteeb Almharea Stadium in Sfax, Tunisia.

Akwa United will host the second leg in Uyo on March 18.

The loss in Libya was Akwa Uniteds first away defeat in the competition after previously winning their first two games against Vita Club Mokanda of Congo and Banjul Hawks of Gambia.

Source: NAN

Juventus qualified for the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday after a 2-1 win away to Tottenham Hotspur in their last 16 second leg.

Son Heung-Min had put Spurs ahead on the night, six minutes before half-time at Wembley, after the clubs drew 2-2 in the first leg in Italy last month.

However, Gonzalo Higuain levelled the scores in the 64th minute and Paulo Dybala won it three minutes later, securing a 4-3 aggregate victory for the Italians.

Manchester City have also qualified for the quarter-finals despite recording a shock 1-2 loss at home to visiting Swiss team Basel.

The loss by City was by a much-changed side and they could afford the luxury as the hard work had been done in Switzerland, three weeks ago.

Nonetheless, they cruised through 5-2 on aggregate.

City had extended their aggregate advantage early on when Gabriel Jesus tapped home after just eight minutes.

However, Mohamed Elyounoussi exposed some slack City defending to smash in an equaliser for the Swiss champions nine minutes later before Michael Lang rocketed home a spectacular winner 19 minutes from time.

However, a minute later Basel were level as Blas Riveros burst down the left and his deflected cross was dispatched powerfully past Claudio Bravo by Elyounoussi.

The Norwegian then had a great chance to put Basel in front on the half hour mark when he miscued horribly wide with just Bravo to beat after outmuscling Danilo.

City coach Pep Guardiola grew visibly frustrated on the touchline as his side also started the second period slowly.

And they were punished when Elyounoussis low cross was blasted past Bravo at his near post from a narrow angle by Lang.

Substitute Brahim Diaz came closest to a reply but his low driven effort was turned behind by Vaclik to consign City to a first home defeat since December 2016.

Source: NAN

Venus Williams says she hopes to one day follow in the footsteps of her younger sister Serena and experience motherhood.

I hope I can do that if I ever get there, said the 37-year-old Venus on Wednesday.

She does everything for the baby. Other than that she stays the same.

If it happens then I have a good example to follow.

This week marks the return of Serena to the WTA Tour a little under 190 days since the birth of baby Alexis.

Both sisters are competing in the WTA Indian Wells tournament and they landed in the same portion of the draw meaning they could face each other in the third round.

Serena, 36, will need to get through her first round match against 53rd ranked Zarina Diyas and the 29th-seeded Kiki Bertens.

The eighth-seeded Venus has a bye through the first round and will face either qualifier Monica Niculescu or Sorana Cirstea in the second round.

Venus and Serena are more accustomed to meeting in the finals of tournaments. If Venus had any idea she and Serena could meet so early in the Indian Wells draw, she wasnt letting on.

I havent analyzed it at all, Venus said of the field. If I keep playing hopefully I can win.

Venus reached the Wimbledon final last year where she lost to champion Garbine Muguruza 7-5, 6-0.

She also made the final of the Australian Open and the quarterfinals in Rome and at this tournament.

Venus grew up just a couple hours drive away in the south central Los Angeles suburb of Compton.

This tournament means a lot to me, she said of Indian Wells. I dont get to play a lot in the States anymore.

Source: NAN

Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan and three other heads of international election observation missions in Sierra Leone on Monday pledged to remain impartial and ensure that the election complied with the relevant regional protocols and international best practices.

Mr Paul Ejime, spokesman of the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC), on behalf of others,said the missions agreed to continue constructive engagements with the countrys stakeholders and to hold further consultations among themselves before and after the elections.

Sierra Leoneans would vote in the countrys presidential, parliamentary and local Council elections on Wednesday.

The meeting of the monitors, coordinated by ECOWAS and the African Union, was held to strategise on effective value addition to the electoral process ahead of the election on Wednesday.

The meeting was attended by Prof Amos Sawyer, Liberias former Interim President, for ECOWAS; and Kgalema Motlanthe, the former South African President for AU.

The two other leaders were Ghanas former President John Dramani Mahama, for the Commonwealth and Nigerias former President Goodluck Jonathan, for the Election Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA).

After an exchange of information on the work of the observers on ground, the Heads of Missions discussed the level of preparations for the poll.

They also discussed emerging scenarios, identifiable challenges, especially the and legal issues before the Supreme Court and the way forward.

They noted that while international observers could render support, the success of the electoral process is the primary responsibility of Sierra Leoneans, the missions said.

According to the missions, the new ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Gen. Francis Behazin had joined the Prof. Sawyer-led ECOWAS Observation Mission as leader of the Commissions Technical Support Team to the Mission.

NAN reports that the Sierra Leone Telegraph, reported that both Dr Samura Kamara of the ruling All Peoples Congress (APC) and Dr Kandeh Yumkella of the National Grand Coalition (NGC) Presidential candidates are facing separate suits against them at the Sierra Leone Supreme Court.

The separate petitions are to determine if they are qualified to contest the presidential election.

The petitioner against Kamara wants the Supreme Court to disqualify him for violation of electoral laws, which states that all public officials wishing to contest the elections must have resigned from their posts at least 90 days prior to the elections.

He is alleged to have been receiving his government salary as foreign minister and had failed to resign his job in accordance with the law.

It is also alleged that Samura has both Sierra Leone and British citizenships, and has failed to renounce his British citizenship before his nomination as the presidential candidate of the ruling APC.

On the other hand, the case against Yumkella, who is also contesting Parliamentary election at the same time, was filed by APC, claiming he is ineligible to contest the constituency election in Kychum, his place of birth, in the Northern district of Kambia.

The Sierra Leones National Electoral Commission (NEC) has declared that Yumkella was free to contest the parliamentary election until decided otherwise by the Supreme court.

It was reported that Yumkellas name is on the ballot papers for both presidential and parliamentary elections.

Source: NAN