Wednesday, 22 October 2014
Finally!!! Karen Igho opens up on her breast
“Nigeria is not broke” – Finance Minister Okonjo-Iweala
The Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo–Iweala,
has assured Nigerians that the economy is growing positively in spite
of the reduction of oil price in the international market.
Okonjo-Iweala, who stated this on
Tuesday at the 2014 Ministerial Platform in Abuja, said the nation was
not broke as being speculated in the media.
She said “if you look back two years
ago, that title “is Nigeria broke” was written in a newspaper article,
it is like people are trying to force Nigeria into brokerage.
“I think since two years, we have
managed to keep things going, let me explain these; Nigeria is a country
that depends on a stream of income.
“That income is being able to collect
taxes from companies, individuals and our income is also based on
selling a product and that product you take to market and you take
whatever price a buyer is willing to pay.’’
According to her, government is doing everything within its power to ensure economic stability in the country.
She said that presently, government had
been budgeting below the existing oil price to help build buffers in
case of uncertainty.
“We are operating an economy that
depends on a product that fluctuates with oil price and we don’t have
the right to control the price.
“Just like you have in your own
household, when the quantity diminishes or the price drops, you remember
in 2007 to 2008, the price of oil dropped from $140 to $38.
“At that time, nobody asked if the
country was broke because we had saved up 22 billion dollars in the
Excess Crude Account and we were able to continue spending and to
stabilise the economy.’’
The minister said that presently Nigeria
was faced with fluctuations in quantity and price of oil, adding that
it had affected the amount paid into government coffers.
“Does that mean that the country is broke? We still have resources that we depend on; we still have the ability to tax.
“Sometimes, things need to be a little
tighter, easier and we just have to weather it and manage ourselves but
that does not amount to the country being broke.’’
The finance minister said if government
was not able to pay salaries to people and continue to manage, “then we
can say that the country is broke but we have not gotten there yet.’’
She urged Nigerians to bear with the
nature of the economy, adding that it was the reason every effort was
challenged to ensure the economy was diversified.
Commenting on the management of the
fiscal deficit, she said that the Ministry of Finance would continue to
ensure that it was kept as narrow as possible.
She said that in 2013, the debt to Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) ration was 1.4 per cent and 1.03 per cent in
2014 and projected to be one per cent in 2015 budget. .
She added that borrowing had been on the decline and external debt stood at N1.46 trillion or 14 per cent of the total debt.
The ministry had adopted prudence to debt management and Nigeria’s debt to GDP remained one of the lowest in the world.
Nigerian Man caught for drug trafficking
The pressure to have a big, flamboyant wedding has landed a Nigerian man in big trouble.
Chike Pauline, 40,
was arrested at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos,
after being caught with one kilogramme of substance suspected to be
methamphetamine, Vanguard reports. He was apprehended during the outward screening of passengers on a Rwanda Air flight.
During preliminary investigations,
Pauline told National Drug Law Agency (NDLEA) officials that he had been
lured into drug trafficking because of his desperation to raise money
for his wedding coming up in December this year.
“I am a patent medicine dealer in
Aba, Abia State. My arrest is very unfortunate because I am a
hardworking person. I was deceived into drug trafficking because I was
desperate to perform my marriage ceremony by the end of the year. I was
optimistic that I will not be arrested, but things did not go according
to my expectation. What must I do to set myself free from this
predicament?” he said.
He reportedly begged the officials not to imprison him, as he still intends to conduct his wedding in December.
The case is currently under investigation.
Tuesday, 21 October 2014
SAD: Total's CEO Christophe de Margerie dies in Moscow plane crash
“Tonight a plane crashed when it collided with a snow-clearing machine,” said airport spokeswoman Elena Krylova. “Three crew members and a passenger died. I can confirm that the passenger was Total’s head De Margerie.”
The oil company said in a statement: “Total confirms with deep regret and great sadness that chairman and CEO Christophe de Margerie died just after 10pm (Paris time) on October 20 in a private plane crash at Vnukovo airport in Moscow, following a collision with a snow removal machine.”
The collision occurred just before midnight as the Dassault Falcon business jet attempted to take off bound for Paris.
De Margerie, 63, was on a list of attendees at a Russian government meeting on foreign investment in Gorki, near Moscow, on Monday. Hours before his death he had met the Russian prime minister, Dmitry Medvedev, at his country residence outside Moscow to discuss foreign investment in Russia, the Vedomosti business daily reported.
The Vnukovo airport said in a statement that the Falcon Dassault business aviation jet crashed as it prepared to take off for Paris with one passenger and three crew on board. “During run-up at 11.57pm there was a collision with the airport’s snow plough. As a result of the crash the passenger and all the crew members died.”
The airport said that visibility was at 350 metres at the time of the accident. Moscow saw its first snowfall of the winter on Monday. A fire broke out after the crash and was extinguished by airport firefighters.
Moscow transport investigators said they had opened a criminal probe into breaches of aviation safety rules causing multiple deaths through negligence. French authorities would be invited to take part. The plane’s black boxes had been removed for examination.
The airport was closed temporarily to clear up the scene of the accident but resumed normal operations at 1.30am.
With his distinctive bushy moustache and outspoken manner he was one of the most recognisable figures among the world’s top oil executives.
De Margerie, a graduate of the Ecole Superieure de Commerce in Paris, became chief executive officer of Total in February 2007, taking on the additional role of chairman in May 2010, after previously running its exploration and production division.
De Margerie said in July that he should be judged based on new projects launched under his watch, such as a string of African fields, and that Total would seek a successor from within the company rather than an outsider. Philippe Boisseau, head of Total’s new energy division, and Patrick Pouyanne, who was tasked with reducing the group’s exposure to unprofitable European refining sectors, have long been seen as potential heirs.
A staunch defender of Russia and its energy policies amid the conflict in Ukraine, De Margerie told Reuters in a July interview that Europe should stop thinking about cutting its dependence on Russian gas and focus instead on making those deliveries safer.
He said tensions between the west and Russia were pushing Moscow closer to China, as illustrated by a $400bn deal to supply Beijing with gas that was clinched in May.
“Are we going to build a new Berlin Wall?” he said. “Russia is a partner and we shouldn’t waste time protecting ourselves from a neighbour … What we are looking to do is not to be too dependent on any country, no matter which. Not from Russia, which has saved us on numerous occasions.”
Total is one of the major oil companies most exposed to Russia, where its output will double to represent more than a tenth of its global portfolio by 2020.
Total is one of the top foreign investors in Russia but its future there grew cloudy after the 17 July downing of a Malaysian passenger airliner over Ukrainian territory held by pro-Russian rebels. The disaster worsened the oil-rich country’s relations with the west and raised the threat of deeper sanctions.
Total said in September that sanctions would not stop it working on the Yamal project, a $27bn joint venture investment to tap vast natural gas reserves in north-west Siberia that aims to double Russia’s stake in the fast-growing market for liquefied natural gas.
De Margerie said then that Europe could not live without Russian gas, adding that there was no reason to do so.
Total is the fourth largest by market value of the western world’s top oil companies behind Exxon, Royal Dutch Shell and Chevron. Russia accounted for about 9% of Total’s oil and gas output in 2013.
The oil company had forecast in April that Russia would become its biggest source of oil and gas by 2020 due to its partnership with the Russian energy company Novatek and the Yamal project.
Total SA is France’s second-biggest listed company with a market value of €102bn.
Like other big oil companies Total has been under pressure from shareholders to cut costs and raise dividends as rising costs in the industry and weaker oil prices squeeze profitability.
De Margerie was the son of diplomats and business leaders, and the grandson of Pierre Taittinger, founder of Taittinger champagne and the luxury goods dynasty.
“His death is a big loss for the global oil/gas industry,” said Gordon Kwan, head of Asia-Pacific oil and gas research at the financial company Nomura.
Reuters and Agence France-Presse contributed to this report
Oscar Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison
Oscar Pistorious has been sentenced to 5 years in prison for the fatal shooting of then girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.
Judge Thokozile Masipa, who issued the ruling in a Pretoria court, also gave him a three-year suspended sentence for a firearms charge, BBC reports.
In accordance with South African law,
he will have to serve a minimum of one-sixth of his sentence, which is
10 months, to be eligible for parole.
His defense is appealing to have
Pistorious serve a portion of the sentence under house arrest. It is
presently unclear whether that request will be granted.
He has been moved to a holding cell at North Gauteng High Court, and may be moved later to Pretoria Central Prison.
“I’m not afraid to go to jail,” Pistorious said to CNN a few days ago. He expressed his intention to start a gym and/or teach people how to read while in prison.
Friday, 17 October 2014
Mo’Cheddah Celebrates Birthday in grand style
Happy Birthday Mo’Cheddah!
The sexy Libra celebrated her day in a backless top, hot red lips and romantic gifts.
Her gifts included a bouquet of roses and uber luxe Agent Provocateur lingerie.
Photo Source: Instagram @mocheddah
Check out Halle Berry figure-hugging monochrome dress with side cut outs at the Golden Heart Awards dinner
Halle Berry looked her usual
glamorous self in a skin-tight monochrome dress at the God's Love We
Deliver Golden Heart Awards at Spring Studios in the Tribeca district of
New York on Thursday.
The
white, knee-length frock featured a bib edged with black and cut outs
at the sides that revealed the star's rib cage and back.
The 48-year-old teamed the sexy little number with black high-heeled pumps.
Halle's make-up was expertly applied with silver and grey tones around her brown eyes and lashings of mascara.
She had a hint of blusher on her cheeks and completed the look with pearly pink lipstick.
HILARIOUS…CHECK OUT DADDY SHOWKEY’S ONE POSE ON INSTAGRAM
Tiwa Savage looks a bit shy/scared
Happy Friday!
Disclaimer: This is just for Friday fun. If you’re looking for a ‘serious post’, this isn’t it Lol.
We were scrolling through our Instagram timeline today and noticed popular 90s/2000s Dancehall star Daddy Showkey has only ONE Instagram pose, and his celeb friends all react differently.
If you were to pick one Insta pose for yourself what would it be?
***
Yemi Alade matches his cray with her tongue out! Btw, nice teeth Yemi! :)
Basket Mouth lets him be the star of the show/pic.
Denrele salutes the OG dancehall star.
Don Jazzy – cool, calm & collected as always.
Patrick Obahiagbon maintains an ‘unperturbed disposition adjacent to the musician’
Femi Kuti embraces the fun guy
Ini Edo matches his whimsy with her glasses
MI is lost for words
DJ Jimmy Jatt focuses on the camera
Oritse Femi
Phyno points right back at him
Anna Ebiere Banner “Confirms” Relationship with Flavour … Weeks After He Has Baby with Someone Else?
Ex-MBGN Anna Ebiere just sorta/kinda confirmed her relationship with Nigerian artiste Flavour.
A few hours ago Anna shared this picture of them together (see above) alongside this caption.
Wen u have someone dat encourage u, support u, scolds u, appreciates u, respect u, advice u, reminds u of wat the future holds, play with u, cares abt u, loves u, makes u smile,tells u the truth without looking back, and most importantly draws u closer to God. pls tell me wat else u want!!!.. cuz I have all I need. U make me happy! !☺☺ ur more than awesome. … I pray dat God continues to bless you. @2niteflavour
Her comment section is raging with curiosity as to the real relationship between the two of them, especially as it’s alleged Sandra Okagbue had his baby last month… (in case you missed it read it up here).
We are sure that a clearer picture will unfold in time.
Photo Source: Instagram.com/AnnaEbiereThursday, 16 October 2014
Simply Enchanting! Rita Dominic Covers TW Magazine’s October 2014 Issue
This month’s TW Magazine cover star is the award winning actress and star of movies like ‘Shattered’ & ‘The Meeting’ – Rita Dominic.
In the magazine’s latest issue, Rita
Dominic opens up like never before about how the passing of her biggest
supporter, her mother affected her; making her mark in Nollywood not
just as an actress but a producer with the launch of The Audrey Silva
Company & marrying the man of her dreams.
The TW Magazine October 2014 issue also features a fashion editorial with another gorgeous Nollywood actress, Omoni Oboli, as she models stunning pieces from designer Ayo Van Elmar’s Spring/Summer 2015 collection.
The celebrity feature for October is fast-rising actress Lala Akindoju as well as Ebola survivor Dr. Ada Okoli Igonoh who shares more details of how she beat the deadly disease.
Read TW, tell us what you think and you stand the chance to win a fabulous prize! Send your thoughts on our current issue to pulse@twmagazine.net
TW Magazine is out now & available
at newsstands and vendors nationwide. Download the TW Magazine app for
free on your iPad, iPhone & iPod. Go to: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/twmagazineapp/id662035026?mt=8.
For more check their official website: www.twmagazine.net. You can also follow them on Twitter and Instagram.
Cover Credits:
Cover Story: Feyikemi Emmanuel
Photography: BIE Photography
Stylist: Ebun Aboderin
Clothing & Accessories: Enthyst Fashion Klinik
Make-up: Zaron Cosmetics
Hair: Apples & Oranges
Cover Story: Feyikemi Emmanuel
Photography: BIE Photography
Stylist: Ebun Aboderin
Clothing & Accessories: Enthyst Fashion Klinik
Make-up: Zaron Cosmetics
Hair: Apples & Oranges
Wizkid Reveals He Charges 10 Million Naira for Music Collaborations
Things are sure getting intense for Wizkid this week.
After hinting that Wizkid collected N1.5 million for a feature on her hit single ‘Boogie Down’, singer Saeon went on radio to say that her comment could have been about anybody and not necessarily Wizkid (If you missed the details on BN read it here).
Now in an exclusive interview with NET Ng, Wizkid has revealed that he actually charges 10 million naira for collaborations and features. The Star Boy artiste said, “I
charge N10M for collaboration but I don’t charge the people I love. I
don’t pay for collaborations because I’m confident of myself.”
Also according to NET Ng,
Wizkid did not deny taking payment for Saeon’s song, rather he laughed
off the issue but not without reminding everyone that he was the one who
made ‘Boogie down’ a hit song.
On Twitter, YBNL Nation’s Olamide
has been quick to jump to Wizkid’s defense after a fan asked Olamide
how much he paid for Wizkid to be featured on his 2011 hit single ‘Omo
To Shan’ – to which Olamide replied, “He did it for free .. Let my n**** b great”.
What are your thoughts on Wizkid’s music feature rates?
Female US Passenger Wears Ebola-Protective Gear to Airport: PHOTO
With Ebola Virus rapidly spreading in the United States, one passenger isn’t taking any chances.
An unidentified female passenger at Dulles International Airport outside Washington, D.C, was spotted in a full hazmat suit, complete with gloves, full body gown, mask, etc:
Okay.
Photo Credit: Dailycaller.com
The Alaafin of Oyo & His 4 Wives Celebrate His 76th Birthday | Photos
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi,
celebrated his 76th birthday yesterday and his palace was filled with
pressmen, caregivers, youth corps members as well as the people of Oyo
State as they celebrated with him on his special day.
On his personal Facebook page, there are
several photos of Oba Adeyemi III, Alaafin of Oyo, praying and thanking
all Oyo people for their continuous support and cooperation with him
and their coming to felicitate with him on his 76th, praying that they
will all succeed in their endeavors.
A few weeks ago the Oba and his 4 wives were spotted shopping, which caused a lot of fanfare. In case you missed it, you can check that out here.
See photos from the event below!
Photo Credit: Facebook | AlaafinOyo
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