Just Married (Again)

A furry fetishist and a Monica Lewinsky plot in one episode: It can only be Dallas. (Or Bones. Or Scandal. But this time it was Dallas.)

We opened with Christopher continuing his conversation with Nicolas' wife in Mexico. She told him that Nicolas changed his name in 1997 when he had a chance to leave his penniless orphan past behind him. Christopher told her that he never would have guessed Nicolas was married by the way he conducts himself in Dallas. Dick move or good strategy? We got a first glimpse of Drew this season peeking out a door as Christopher left. (Snooze.)

After John Ross left Pamela love-less again — though this time it was only because he'd scored a meeting with the railroad commissioner that had to happen on the morning of his wedding — Sue Ellen whispered loudly to Ann that she'd been right about John Ross and Emma having an affair. They got into a fight because Sue Ellen wants Emma to move out, and Ann thinks she's not safe outside Southfork considering Harris' dealings with the cartel. Sue Ellen wondered aloud if she'd rather have had someone tell her J.R. was a cheating bastard before it was too late. But it IS too late, Sue Ellen, because John Ross and Pamela are technically already married. Cue the music!

On his way out, John Ross took the time to make Emma feel like crap for the stunt she'd pulled with the matching lingerie last episode. "You know, you may screw like a woman, but you act like an attention-starved little brat. Truth hurts don't it?" She told him to go to hell, and then she went inside and played more games with Pamela. She also drove Sue Ellen to drink from her flask again, which explains why she wouldn't just find a room to put her purse in since she's obviously staying there all day.

Nicolas taking a call wearing only a towel? No, you cannot get me to like him that easily. Damn it if Drew didn't win back points though by admitting he still feels ashamed for planting the bomb that killed Christopher's and Pamela's babies. He thought maybe he should come back to Dallas and face the consequences. Nicolas told him no, it would break his mother's heart. Also, I'm wondering if Nicolas thinks Drew might warn the Ewings out of guilt and/or find his adopted brother screwing his sister distasteful?

Christopher arrived home and after flirting with Heather, who's working the wedding as a server, told Bobby what he'd learned in Mexico. Bobby said Carlos was coming to the wedding, maybe he could help them figure out what Nicolas was hiding pre-1997. Meanwhile, when John Ross showed up to meet the railroad commissioner, he found the commissioner's friend Harris instead. Harris said he could get the commissioner to shut down the Sierra Club's investigation into the Lesser Prairie Chicken on Southfork and get John Ross fracking, in exchange for the files that Emma stole. John Ross said he could have one thing back. The orange flash drive. That meant John Ross had to call and apologize to Emma, so he could ask her to bring it. She took the call while Pamela's mother Afton was busy insulting Pamela's decision to wear her hair down and pointing out that no one had heard from John Ross. Sue Ellen had seen that's who was on Emma's phone — maybe file him under a fake name, Emma.

While I thought about how good Bobby and Christopher looked in tuxes without ties, Carlos assured them he'd get to the bottom of Nicolas' past, if he could. He also drank some of J.R.'s signature bourbon. Emma arrived to meet John Ross without the flash drive because she wanted to know that she wasn't in this alone first. Even if he'll help her get her dad behind bars, which is not what he's intending to do with that flash drive, you can tell Emma wants more from John Ross if she gets upset watching him fawn over his wife. Still, John Ross sweet-talked his way into her going to fetch the flash drive.

The guests had started to arrive for the wedding, including Nicolas who was there with Elena. He out-smartassed Christopher when he told him they really do have the same taste in women after Christopher mentioned he'd met Nicolas' lovely wife. The relatives reminded Christopher they'd been at Southfork for his wedding, then he reminded Elena that she doesn't like to play around with married men. John Ross had gone to see Harris at… a brothel? Harris took him into a surveillance room, where they watched the railroad commissioner get busy with a woman wearing a dog costume. John Ross went in and cut his deal. Harris had kept up his end of the bargain. Now John Ross just needed Emma to deliver the flash drive, which she finally did to Bum, who still had to get it to John Ross. And the wedding was 20 minutes from starting. Afton gave Sue Ellen grief for not raising her son better after all the despicable things J.R. had done to her. "Just so you know, Afton, the most despicable thing J.R. ever did was you," Sue Ellen snapped. Point for Sue Ellen! And drink!

Harris wanted to give John Ross a wedding present while they waited for Bum — their names were Sapphire and Chastity. Chastity hit her knees and had his pants unzipped, despite John Ross' protests. Luckily Bum showed up in time to save him. He'd made a copy of the flash drive and said it was encrypted. Harris secretly confirmed it had his CIA files on it, and then gave the disk to John Ross. Oh, and he told John Ross to stop sleeping with Emma.

At Southfork, Nicolas talked his way out of Elena thinking he was a bastard — the divorce papers just aren't signed because the lawyers haven't reached a settlement, it's always been her — and Sue Ellen threatened to tell Pamela about John Ross' affair herself if he doesn't stop bedding Emma. He thinks it's just business and it doesn't change the way he feels about Pamela at all. If won't hurt her as long as she doesn't find out about it. Man, he knows exactly where to verbally hit a lady: "You have looked the other way your whole life, mama. One more time's not gonna hurt." He said that even after he'd smelled the alcohol on her breath. I want to like John Ross. Lines like that make it hard. At least Afton got to slap the back of John Ross' head when she left him alone to apologize to Pamela. He told her everything he'd done that day was for her, so he could give her all that she deserves. She said her father had used the same excuse every time he hadn't shown up for her. Really, it was always about Cliff and his greed and need for power. YEP. RUN, PAMELA. But John Ross really does love her, in his own way, and he was convincing when he said he'd always show up for her. (Just late. Good thing he didn't go for that joke, or he would've been slapped again.)

Bobby walked Pamela down the aisle as Emma held back tears. Christopher got in one last jab as best man: "So if you need any advice, you know, from someone who's been through this before, with the same bride…" Ha. Like we wish we could do in real life, we skipped the actual ceremony and went right to the reception where Christopher was skulking about and Bobby was at the bar peddling J.R.'s bourbon again. John Ross told Bobby that the railroad commissioner was giving him the drilling permit, and Bobby told him, once again, that J.R. never drilled the ranch and neither would he.

Bobby went inside and called the railroad commissioner to let him have it. Then he told Sue Ellen he was out of moves. She said she wasn't. OOH. That's gonna be good. John Ross and Pamela drove off in their "Just Married (Again)!!!" car and Heather found Christopher in the horse barn. He made the first move this time, and it was pretty hot. They started the total humpfest that followed by literally rolling around in the hay, while Pamela and John Ross, and Elena and Nicolas, went at it in beds elsewhere. Poor Emma cried alone in her room.

When Nicolas returned home, he found his wife waiting for him. She's decided she wants to stay in the marriage. If Nicolas doesn't give it another go, she'll tell the Ewings what he owes and who he owes it to. She said that would make him lose Elena, too. Interesting.

At the brothel, Harris was told that the Madam wanted to see him. He switched out the hard drives and went inside another room. It was, of course, HIS MOTHER. He told her he'd gotten the log files for his transactions with the cartel back (keeping her in the dark about the CIA), and that he was sure Emma actually had the files. "We did raise her to be smart," Judith said, toasting herself. Harris said John Ross was still controlling Emma, so they had to break them up. He'd gotten photos taken of John Ross with Sapphire and Chastity all over him. Inspired by Monica Lewinsky, he'd also gotten the dress Chastity had been wearing. Turns out she was only 16. It was missing one key "substance," Judith noted. Enter John Ross' secretary, who will fit that dress just fine. Okay, if John Ross sleeps with his secretary, then I have no problem with him getting blackmailed to 1.) stay away from Emma and 2.) stay the hell away from Ryland Transportation (which you know would be next).
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'The Walking Dead:' Showrunner Scott Gimple does a deep dive on Sunday’s shocking episode

It was the episode that set social media on fire. And now Walking Dead showrunner Scott M. Gimple breaks down the heart-wrenching episode that was "The Grove." [SPOILER ALERT: Read on only if you have already watched Sunday's episode of The Walking Dead.]

It would have been crazy enough to have an episode featuring one little girl (Lizzie) stabbing her sister (Mika) to death. But throw on top of that a scene of adult Carol then putting a bullet in young Lizzie's brain and you have the true makings of a WTF?!?!? classic. We already spoke to the woman who pulled the trigger, Melissa McBride, who plays Carol Now we catch up with the man behind the plan, Walking Dead showrunner Scott M. Gimple, who explains why he did it, why he made some changes from the event in The Walking Dead comic book on which it was based, what he felt they could and could not show on screen, and why it was important for Tyreese to forgive Carol for killing his girlfriend. Gimple also offers some teases for what to expect coming up in the last two episodes of season 4. It's a truly enlightening chat into the most impactful episode of the season, if not the entire series. (Click through both pages to read the entire interview.)

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: One of my pet peeves is when a TV show does something really dramatic but doesn't lay the groundwork for it in the sense that it feels like they just realized "Hey, we need to do something crazy here," so it doesn't really track or make sense. What you guys did, however, was really play this thing out all season long. You dropped clues and hints and showed a progression that ultimately all led up to what transpired on Sunday.
SCOTT M. GIMPLE: A lot of it is right there in episode 401 for you. And kind of the rest is in 402. We knew where we were going and I knew that this was a story that I desperately wanted to tell. This is an example of a story that I really dug in the comic book, but didn't want to do it verbatim. But the story in the comic, which was different but was the basis for our story, was longplayed as I recall too.

EW: It was, but you don't necessarily see that patience played out on television. When this was first brought up, this whole storyline and the gruesome ending to it, was there any discussion like "Okay, this worked in the comic, but is this too much for TV?"
GIMPLE: I had originally talked to [creator] Robert [Kirkman] about it because in the comic it's more Carl's story and I remember pitching it to him because I wanted to know what he thought. It was important to me. And what was funny is I started going, "I'm thinking about taking this thing away from Carl, this super-important part of the comic," and initially he was like, "Oh, I don't know." And then I pitched him the story and he was like, "That's awesome!" Which was exciting because I was really nervous, because you want to honor the source material and I wanted him to be excited about it and he was. Beyond that, I wasn't really that worried about AMC. I know they have faith in us. This was not a story that was sensational. We weren't exploiting anything. It was something that was very much a part of Carol's story and very much these girls' story and very much a story of this world, and I felt that from the jump we had a very sensitive approach to it. No matter how extreme the end was, we weren't just doing it for shock. And AMC felt the same way. Even between all this we tried to do it as sensitively as possible. There were a lot of conversations about that.

EW: I was going to ask you about that, because when we spoke about baby Judith at one point you said how you couldn't really show a baby being killed on TV. So how did you guys decide about exactly what you would and wouldn't show as far as those two little girls being killed? You know, we see the body, but we don't see the stabbing. We see the gun go off, but we don't see the bullet land. How did those decisions get made and how much did AMC weigh in on that?
GIMPLE: With Mika's death, that was something I wanted Carol and Tyreese to discover. I didn't want to see that happen. And I would love to take credit for an awesome idea, but basically that's how it happens in the book. It was discovered. It wasn't shown. It was very effective in the book. It worked on me when I read it and I knew that would be effective that way too. I don't think we needed to see that part of it. That's something where the audience's imagination will be far more horrible that anything we could have done. As far as the gunshot, we did wrestle with the cut of that. We played around with it in a variety of iterations. Initially it was about what we felt was tasteful to show and what we felt was not tasteful to show and figuring that out. I'd say the discovery along the way was the shot where we don't see it, but we see Carol pull the trigger and we stay on Carol. It's such a remarkable piece of acting that Melissa does in that moment that I wouldn't have wanted to cut away anyways, because really in that moment that is all about Carol. The die is kind of cast and this is Carol's story. This is fulfilling a big part of Carol's story in a very tragic way. And too see that character feel that moment and feel the gravity of that moment and the impact upon her and even just change her in that very moment — I actually felt Melissa's portrayal of that moment. I could feel it. So in the end it went towards storytelling anyways.

EW: What was the reaction of the cast? Because I remember Andrew Lincoln told me he read the script and asked you, "Are we really going to do this?"
GIMPLE: I was coming into Atlanta for prep on this episode, and I landed and I had a text from Andrew, who had also already called me. And the text said, "Just read your script, I really need to talk to somebody." And yeah, he was asking, "Are we gonna do this?" It wasn't out of fear that he was asking that. It was out of hope that we could tell the story the way we wanted to. So few of the cast was in the script, but I got all these emails and texts just so excited to see this episode and so into the story we were telling.

EW: How exactly does one go about telling two sweet little girls they are about to die incredibly horrible deaths? I mean, you've had to make those calls before to Scott Wilson and what have you. But I imagine it's different when you are dealing with a child.
GIMPLE: Well, it's face to face whenever we can. The thing is, like I said, we knew where this story was going before when these gals were cast. So I was hinting at things going really badly from the moment we started. And they are both incredibly bright and talented and mature performers. We talked very candidly about everything from before we even started, so it was difficult and I talked to their moms first. But it wasn't wholly unexpected. I was trying to lay the groundwork for that from the beginning. And they knew. Everybody was like, "Who is killing the rats?" and they knew. I didn't share that with everybody, but the little girls did have that secret. I told Brighton and Kyla about their character's histories and what led up to this. And Lizzie had her problems before the apocalypse. And it was just an incredible thing to lay it all out and see that groundwork from the beginning and slowly dole it out and see them grow close to Carol. And in episode 10, it was really something to see the reaction to people seeing Lizzie almost smother Judith, because that was a bit of a reveal at that point. Not to mention the bunny rabbits. Those poor bunny rabbits.
EW: Let's talk about the Carol and Tyreese scene at the end, which obviously could have played out a few ways. Was there ever a scenario discussed where Tyreese does not forgive Carol?
GIMPLE: It was very important to me that we have this moment of grace from the beginning. And I remember talking to Chad Coleman at the beginning of the season — knowing where the story was going — and telling him that, you know, things in the apocalypse for Tyreese had not been sooooo terrible. He had lost people like anybody, but things that directly hit him, it hadn't happened until Karen was killed. And I told him things were going to be very, very rough for him this year, and that he would come to a place where he would have every reason to lash out for revenge, and that through everything he had been up to at that point, Tyreese would find grace. He would find forgiveness. And this was all without telling him what everything was about, just a general arc. But it was very important to me that in the context of such darkness, there be some light. And Tyreese is a character, being such a humanistic character, that's the way I believe he would go. I'm not excited about things that are just relentlessly dark — that are just one thing. I get excited about stories that really do show every part of the human experience, and even in that horrible, horrible, horrible situation, there was some good that came out of it. There was grace. I was so thrilled to see how it came out.

EW: It's definitely a theme I've noticed in these back eight episodes. In the first Rick and Carl episode you had the lighter moment at the end with the knock at the door and Rick says, "It's for you." Then you had it in the Daryl and Beth episode where they burn the house down at the end. Then you had it last week with Bob, Maggie, and Sasha all smiling when they are reunited on the train tracks. I've definitely noticed that even in these brutal episodes, many of them are ending on a note of hope.
GIMPLE: I think this show at its core is hopeful. Thee people are trying to remain people in extraordinarily bad circumstances, and to me that is one of the most hopeful things in the world. The thing about that is, if things do get light, if there are smiles, if there is love, if there is friendship and forgiveness and grace, it makes the darker things that much more dark and makes the defeats that much more crushing. And I will say that in my mind when Tyreese forgives Carol, in some ways, that is just a crushing thing. That's a devastatingly sad thing, a reminder of  the goodness of the world — and yet, they lost these little girls. They had seen how the world destroys, but it isn't so easy to say the world is just a destructive place or just an evil place, With that there could be some sort of surrender. To know that life can be good to is both heartening and extremely painful.

EW: Is that smoke we saw last night from the fire that Daryl set?
GIMPLE: I keep getting asked that and I refuse to give a definitive answer. Because I don't want to tell you what it is. If I wanted folks to believe that definitively, I would have somehow tied that in definitively, but I want people to decide that. In the end, I have very hard feelings about what everything means, but I would never tell the audience they're wrong. Unless it was a story point that we were very specific about.

EW: Was Greg Nicotero like a kid in a candy store coming up with those charbroiled zombies?
GIMPLE: We had done charbroiled zombies in the past but I wanted them to be still smoking. And that was some amazing work. We had extra crispy and original style, which was like half-crispy.

EW: Okay, just two more episodes left, sir. What can you tell us about where we go from here after that incredibly emotional installment?
GIMPLE: To the emotional conclusion of the season. Both episodes are really big episodes. There are some insane things that happen. There are some tragic things that happen, There are some things that happen that are hopeful. And there is just some remarkably dark stuff. And stories crashing together.

EW: So we may see some groups reuniting by chance?
GIMPLE: Possibly. Maybe.

EW: Those train tracks gotta be leading somewhere, right, Scott?
GIMPLE: Or it's just like Where the Sidewalk Ends.
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Free The Man! Duncan Mighty, Others Hold Solidarity Rally For Akas Baba

Celebrities, Media Personalities and concerned firms have held a solidarity rally in Port Harcourt, to throw more light on the case of Akas Baba, who was kidnapped last week.

Nigerian Afro Pop superstar, Duncan Mighty and other celebrities on March 16, 2014, Sunday, held a solidarity march in Port Harcourt to raise awareness about Akas Baba's kidnap, and urge his abductors to release the broadcaster immediately and unconditionally. The celebrities marched the streets with placards bearing various messages of support.

The Wazobia OAP was shot in the leg and abducted at his home in Port Harcourt, on Thursday March 13, 2014. His abductors had later requested that N10 million be paid as ransom for his release, but negotiations have not yielded progress.
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Tekno & Emma Nyra Thrill At ‘The Place’

TripleMG musicians, Tekno & Emma Nyra, were the guest at the last edition Pulse VIP Night which held the prestigious 'The Place" in VI, Lagos on Friday, March 14, 2014. The Nigerian singers who arrived looking ready to thrill and have fun, brought down the house.

Young entertainer, Tekno, strode in classic jean, customized Tee, a camouflage snapback cap, and shades, for the extra perp. Emma Nyra graced the event wearing a chic printed mini-gown.

Also present were Selebobo, Beat FM's Osi Suave, Uti Nwachukwu, MTV's VJ Ehis,  who switch on their party buttons and had mad fun. Also did we have a dance completion, with winners announced and gifted.

If you missed out, take a run down at what happened in pictures (below). It rocked awesome!
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Shocking News! Famous Designer L'Wren Scott Commits Suicide

Imge: Mick Jagger and L'Wren have been dating since 2001.

Image: Mick Jagger's model girlfriend since 2001, L'Wren Scott found dead Monday morning  (PA REX)

Image: L'Wren Scott's Fall Collection 2010

L'Wren Scott at The Harpers Bazaar Women Of The Year Awards 2013.

Mick Jagger's model and designer girlfriend since 2001, L'Wren Scott has been found dead after hanging herself in her Manhattan apartment on this [Monday] morning [10am]

A spokesman for Mick Jagger said the singer was 'completely shocked and devastated' following the news of her death.

When asked if there were still in a relationship at the time of her death, the Rolling Stones frontman replied 'of course'.

The late designer, 47, was found by her assistant and there was no immediate suspicion of foul play though the Medical Examiner has not yet released the formal report.
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Oscar Pistorius trial enters third week

Pretoria, South Africa Opening a third week of testimony, a gun dealer said South African Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius had to know gun safety laws before purchasing his firearms and getting his gun licenses.

Sean Patrick Rens, who sold guns to Pistorius, said the athlete correctly answered a questionnaire.

Rens said Pistorius knew that it's not legal to shoot at unknown person seen breaking into your house, not legal to shoot at them if burglar bars separate you, but it is legal to shoot at them if there's no protection and they approach you with a weapon.

For it to be legal to fire, Rens said, "the attack must be against you, must be against a person, must be unlawful."

These points are important, because the Pistorius defense team must show that not only did he made a mistake but that the mistake was reasonable in order for him to be cleared of killing his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.

Prosecutors and the defense are jockeying over whether Pistorius intentionally murdered Steenkamp, or killed her in a terrible but understandable accident.

There's no question that he shot her through a bathroom door in his house early on Valentine's Day last year, hitting her with three hollow-tipped bullets, one of which probably killed her almost instantly.

But for two weeks in court, his defense team has chipped away at every witness who casts doubt on his story that he thought Steenkamp was a burglar and mistakenly acted in what he believed was self-defense.

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel has put up witnesses ranging from the pathologist who performed the autopsy, to ex-girlfriend Samantha Taylor, who said Pistorius kept a gun by his bed and went to investigate a sound in the night, weapon in hand, at least once while she was dating him.

The senior police officer on the scene the night of the killing testified Friday, but it's not clear he did much for the prosecution case.

The police investigation sounded in court like a catalog of bumbling, bad judgment, poor memory and petty theft.

Former police Col. G.S. van Rensburg described how he found a police ballistics expert handling Pistorius' gun without wearing gloves and reprimanded the officer, who apologized and put a pair on.

And he said he was "furious" when at least one of the Olympic athlete's valuable wristwatches disappeared from his bedroom as police investigated the crime scene.

He "body searched" his fellow officers, their bags and their vehicles but was unable to find the watch, which was worth several thousand dollars.

He also said he had ordered the bathroom door through which Pistorius shot Steenkamp removed from the house, placed in a body bag and taken to his office, explaining, "The door is the most valuable evidence because the deceased was behind the door."

Earlier in the week, the defense attacked police handling of the door, implying that the evidence was unreliable because it was contaminated.

Van Rensburg resigned from the force in December after three decades, under fire for his handling of the door. Asked what he now did for a living, he choked up and said, "I am now coaching sports, and sports is my life."

Gory details lend Pistorius trial a 'CSI' flavor

Golden boy turned defendant

He's the 13th witness to testify for the prosecution in the murder trial of Pistorius, once South Africa's golden boy for the stellar track success that made him the first double amputee runner to compete in the Olympics.

Pistorius, 27, has pleaded not guilty to murder and three other weapons charges. Steenkamp, a model, was 29 when she was killed.

On Friday, Pistorius' lawyer Barry Roux ripped into van Rensburg's chronology of events on the night of the killing, presenting witness statements from three police officers whose accounts differed from van Rensburg's.

The former officer was so startled by the statement of police Sgt. Ntome Sebetha that he stared at Roux and said, "Amazing."

Later, Roux rattled van Rensburg so severely, pointing out clear differences between two pictures that the former officer said were the same, that van Rensburg refused to answer a question about how many keys were in another photograph.

"It's not a trick question," Roux said. "There's one key there."

Gruesome images

The former police colonel first took the stand Thursday and said paramedics were there when he arrived at Pistorius' address about 3:55 a.m., but Steenkamp was dead.

As he testified, the prosecution showed more than 100 police photographs taken at Pistorius' house after the killing, including the sprinter's 9 mm handgun, still cocked and ready to fire, on a bloody towel or bathmat on a blood-spattered floor.

On Friday, the court was shown a photo of a toilet covered in blood, but only van Rensburg saw photos of Steenkamp's body and closeups of her injuries.

Those gruesome pictures were not displayed on courtroom monitors.

Even so, Pistorius kept his head down, shielding his eyes with one hand, while prosecutor Nel talked the former police officer quickly through the sheaf of photos on the witness stand.

Pistorius vomited several times last week as pathologist Gert Saayman described Steenkamp's fatal wounds, and again when pictures of the injuries were accidentally displayed on monitors in court.

Gun at his bedside

The case against Pistorius is largely circumstantial, Nel said in his opening statement last week. Pistorius and Steenkamp were the only people in his house when he killed her.

Nel has been building a picture of what happened through the testimony of experts, neighbors who heard screaming and bangs that night, current and former friends of Pistorius' and a security guard who sped to the scene because of reports of gunshots.

Many prosecution witnesses' accounts are consistent with Pistorius' version of events: that he got up in the night, went out to his balcony to get a fan, came back inside and heard noises in the bathroom that he thought came from an intruder.

He said he took the gun and fired while calling for Steenkamp to call police. When she didn't answer, he realized she could have been the person in the bathroom, he said.

Neighbors said they heard a woman screaming before the shots were fired. But the defense is proposing that what neighbors thought was Steenkamp screaming in fear for her life was in fact Pistorius when he realized what he had done.

And the defense says that the sounds neighbors heard were not the gunshots, but the cricket bat hitting the door as he tried to rescue her.

Pistorius and at least two neighbors made phone calls to security after the shooting, allowing the defense to use phone records to establish a timeline of events.

Judge Thokozile Masipa will decide the verdict. South Africa does not have jury trials.

In South Africa, premeditated murder carries a mandatory life sentence with a minimum of 25 years. Pistorius also could get five years for each gun indictment and 15 years for a firearms charge he also faces.

If he isn't convicted of premeditated murder, the sprinter could face a lesser charge of culpable homicide, a crime based on negligence. The sentence for culpable homicide is at the judge's discretion. The trial looks set to go on for several more weeks.
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Ukraine 'disallowed' Crimea annexation

Obama imposes sanctions against Russia

Western powers slapped sanctions on more than two dozen Russian officials and their allies in Ukraine's Crimea region on Monday, while Ukrainian officials vowed they would never accept the territory's annexation by Russia.

In a televised address Monday night, interim Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov said his government would do "everything possible" to solve the crisis diplomatically, and he praised his citizens for refusing to respond to Russian provocations with violence.

"The Kremlin is afraid of the democratic future which we are building, and this is the reason for their aggression," Turchynov said. "But this will not be an obstacle to the building of a democratic country."

But he announced a partial mobilization of his country's armed forces and said Ukrainians "have to unite in one big family, which is ready to protect its home." Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said there was "a strong possibility" of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

"I still believe that there is only one solution of this crisis, a peaceful one," Yatsenyuk said. "But we offer peace, and Russia offers war."

The Russian-backed breakaway government in Crimea applied to join with Moscow on Monday after a weekend referendum that Ukraine, the United States and the European Union called illegal. U.S. and EU officials announced sanctions on more than two dozen Russian officials and their allies in the region, which Russian-backed forces seized three weeks ago.

In Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree that recognizes the independence and sovereignty of the Republic of Crimea, says a statement on Russia's Kremlin website. The Russian parliament is expected to vote on whether to annex the breakaway territory in the coming days.

Turchynov said Ukraine was willing to hold talks with Russia, "but we will never accept the annexing of our territory."

The EU sanctions include the top pro-Russian Crimean secessionist leaders, 10 leading Russian lawmakers who have endorsed the annexation of Crimea and three top Russian military commanders. The U.S. sanctions list also includes two top advisers to Russian President Vladimir Putin and ex-Ukrainian President Yanukovych, whose February ouster in the face of widespread anti-government protests sparked the current crisis.

In Washington, President Barack Obama warned Moscow: "Further provocations will achieve nothing except to further isolate Russia and diminish its place in the world."
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Garlic, chilli and broccoli stir-fry

By James Tanner.

from Ready Steady Cook
Add "Garlic, chilli and broccoli stir-fry" to FavouritesAdd to Favourites
Preparation time: less than 30 mins
Cooking time: less than 10 mins
Serves 1
Vegetarian
Method
Quick recipe finder
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 85g/3oz broccoli, cut into florets
- 1 garlic clove, chopped
- ½ red chilli, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- ½ lime, juice only
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
Shopping list

Method
1. Heat the olive oil in a wok, add the broccoli and fry for 2-3 minutes, or until starting to soften, then add the garlic and chilli and fry for 1-2 minutes.

2. Add the soy sauce, sesame oil, lime juice, salt and freshly ground black pepper and fry for 1-2 minutes, or until the broccoli is tender.

3. To serve, spoon the stir-fry into a bowl and serve as a side dish.

Ingredients
Special diets
Dairy-free
Egg-free
Nut-free
Pregnancy-friendly
Shellfish-free
Vegan
Vegetarian
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What are the chances of being hit by lightning?

Magazine Monitor
A collection of cultural artifacts

Being killed by lightning is extremely unlikely, which is a good thing.

Apparently, the chances are 300,000 to one, according to David Hand in his new book: The Improbability Principle. But while 300,000 to one looks like a minor risk for an individual, there are lots of people on the planet.

As a result, about 24,000 people are killed by lightning each year. Remember, you don't have to be struck by lightning to be killed by it - you could be in a house that's struck by lightning and burns down with you inside. Indeed, with seven billion people on the planet, what would be really, really unlikely would be that nobody was killed by lightning.

Of course, 300,000 to one is an average - people in the developing world who spend less time indoors and have fewer tall buildings and more flammable ones are much more likely to be killed by lightning than people in developed ones.

On average, three people are killed each year by lightning in the UK, according to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, which are odds 66 times shorter than the global average.

Hand's book sets out to explain why things that are considered to be very unlikely keep on happening. It's not just that people win the lottery. Again, while that's unlikely for an individual, it's pretty likely that someone will win it each week. No, we're talking about really unlikely things, like the lottery drawing the same numbers in two consecutive weeks, as happened on the Bulgarian Lottery in 2009.

So, if you wait around long enough, it looks like you'll get to see almost anything happen. But not a man being struck by lightning twice in succession, seen on a security camera. The video of that, which Hand showed as part of a talk to the Royal Statistical Society on Thursday, is widely described on the internet as having been a fake.

Maybe we'll have to wait a bit longer to see that.
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Drogba 'still one of world's best'

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho believes Blues legend Didier Drogba is still one of the best strikers in the world.

The Galatasaray forward, who left Stamford Bridge in June 2012, returns to London for Tuesday's second leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie.

Mourinho said: "Is he (Drogba) the same player at 36 years old as he was at 26? Nobody is, but he is certainly still one of the best strikers in the world."

Drogba said he may not celebrate if he scores against his former team-mates.
The Ivory Coast striker netted 157 goals in 342 appearances during an eight-year spell at Chelsea.

With his last kick for the club, he tucked away the decisive spot-kick in the penalty shoot-out at the end of the 2012 Champions League final against Bayern Munich.

Mourinho, who signed Drogba for Chelsea from Marseille in 2004, was given a rousing ovation when he made his return to the Blues dugout in August after a near six-year absence and hopes the Ivorian will experience similar acclaim.

He added: "He is undoubtedly one of the most important players in the history of the club. All Chelsea supporters, we agree with that."

Mourinho also believes that Drogba, who was voted by fans as Chelsea's best-ever player in the club's official magazine in 2012, will return to the club in the future.

"I think it has to happen one day," he continued. "When, I don't know. As a player, as a coach, as an ambassador, next year, in four, five years, in 10 years, I don't know.

"But when a person represents so much to a club and when a club represents so much to a person, and that's the case, I think he has to be back one day."

Chelsea will be the first English side to reach this season's Champions League quarter-finals if they win but Mourinho is taking nothing for granted against the Turkish champions, managed by former Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini.

The tie is finely poised after a 1-1 first-leg draw in Istanbul.

"Everything is in the balance," Mourinho said. "I think it will be that way as we go into the end of the game.
"I don't think that one of the teams is going to make a result where people at half-time already know who is going to win."

Drogba hopes to mark his return to Chelsea with a Galatasaray victory but plans to keep his emotions in check.
He said: "With all the respect that I have for this club, for the fans and for the players, I might not celebrate, but if we win I'll be happy.

"I have nothing to prove to this club. Everything I had to prove I think I did it with Chelsea. I come here with another team.

"I just want to win the game, I just want to qualify. There's nothing personal against Chelsea, there will never be."
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True Or False? AGN President Blames Growth Of Nollywood On Leaders

AGN president Ibinabo Fiberesima has blamed the slow and poor groth of Nollywood on our leaders and lack of treaties.

According to the president of Actors Guild Of Nigeria (AGN), most of our leaders have not been able to understand what it is to be a leader.

 She noted that treaties ought to be signed so that it would be on paper that foreigners are welcome into the country.

"Most other African countries have treaties and we don't have, yet we have a bigger film industry."

Treaty here means an agreement under internationall law entered into by actors in international law.
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Seriously? James Brown Comes Back Alive?

James Brown was indeed a music legend; could we see him again in this new 'Get On Up' musical?

Chadwick Boseman plays James Brown in Get On Up movie

"One day, everybody gon' know your name…" and we all knew him as James Brown, the man who could move his feet on the dance floor faster than Michael Jackson and Usain Bolt. But he's no more.

James Brown, best known as the founding father of Funk & Soul died on December 25, 2006 in Atlanta Georgia, USA. But it looks like the late legend has resurrected in a new movie titled, Get On Up whose trailer just got released.

When it was first announced that actor Chadwick Bosemen (who played Jackie Robinson in "42") would be playing James Brown in the upcoming biopic Get On Up, many cast doubt on his craft, but judging from the trailer, the young actor totally nailed it!

Get On Up, tells the story of James Brown's rough childhood, his prison stint and his rise to the top as one of America's musical icons. The film isn't light on talent either as it also stars The Help's Viola Davis as James' mother Susie, as well as Oscar-winner Octavia Spencer who plays his brothel-running, moonshine-selling Aunt Honey who actually raised him.

Also starring in this epic flick are Tika Sumpter, Jill Scott and Dreamgirls actor Keith Robinson.

The film hits theaters on August 1. Who would love to watch?
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SCANDAL p!!! Yoruba Actor Ganiyu Oyeyemi Arrested For Raping His Daughter's Friend

Did he do it?

In what is becoming a recurring decimal, another big player in the entertainment industry, Ganiyu Oyeyemi, a top Nollywood actor of the Yoruba sector, has been arrested by the police in Oshogbo, Osun State, South West Nigeria, for allegedly raping his daughter's friend.

The actor who is popularly known as Ogunjimi, is currently in police custody as the police did not care about his status in the society but slammed him in their cell.

Ogunjimi, known mostly for playing fierce roles in Yoruba movies, according police statement made available to newsmen, was said to have been responsible for the upkeep of the victim and her mother who until recently, lived with him in his Oshogbo residence. The mother of the victim, we gather, travelled to Lagos and left the young girl with the actor who decided to have carnal knowledge of the girl who is his daughter's best friend and age mate.

The poor girl, who is 22 years old, could not take the shame of being raped by a man she calls 'Daddy', and reported the matter to the police. The police swooped on the actor and arrested him after medical reports on the girl proved that she had actually been raped. He is being detained at the SCID, Oshogbo.

This is the second case of rape involving Nigerian celebrities after Fuji singer, Abass Akande Obesere was also arrested for raping a lady in his house few weeks ago.

What could be the cause of these incessant rape cases?
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Too much money Tiwa Savage And Tee Billz Pick April 26 Wedding Date In Dubai

In what is becoming a norm for Nigerian celebrities, singer Tiwa Savage and hubby, producer Tee Billz, have picked April 26 for their white wedding in far-away Dubai.

The wedding which initially had been fixed for February in the Maldives Island, had to be rescheduled for what the couple term personal issues.

Just like singer Tuface Idibia when he took his wedding to the Far East and the impending double weddings of the P-Square brothers in Dubai, many are wondering why Nigerian stars are taking their weddings to another country and expect their fans in the country to buy their albums and generally patronize them.

Recall that the 'Eminado' crooner and her manager had their traditional marriage in November, 2013.
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To Hell With Being Skinny! Jennifer Hudson Dumps Weight Watchers!

Did she get scared of her new tiny look or what?

Jennifer Hudon separates from Weight Watchers

Jennifer Hudson goes firece on V Magazine Music Issue

Singer Jennifer Hudson is done losing weight and to prove how serious she is, the singer has reportedly dumped her main instructors, Weight Watchers.

The Think Like A Man crooner admits her time with the diet company has been life changing, "a total understatement" but she is over the weight loss for now. She went from a size 16 to 6, losing 80 lbs, using the product and got pretty damn hot in the process, we must admit.

J Hud hooked up with Weight Watchers back in 2010 after giving birth to her son in 2009. However, the company still believes she will continue using their products even after the separation.

J Hud is still to dish out the real reason she's leaving the same people who made her figure look this divine. Did her husband complain or is she just scared of her new look?

Tell us what you think.
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Bravo! Nollywood Actress, Daniella Okeke Spends Millions On New Home

Nollywood seems to be more lucrative as lots of the actors are attaining higher heights, to prove it is sexy Nollywood actress Daniella Okeke who is close to completing her new house.

There seems to be a new ease of life for most Nollywood practitioners lately. Actress, Daniella Okeke has been off the news for quite some time now, but she is making a return into the news with the completion of a new home.

She shared some pictures of the building, which is still under construction. She has feautured in movies like Lagos Cougers. We say a big congratulations to her.
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Joey's Monday Musings Hoping For Kidnapped Akas Baba

From a week brimming with headlines, scandals, and the odd shit-smudging, Pulse.ng's Joey Akan walks through them all, shedding extra light, analysis, and maybe, discovering the solution to world peace.

 
Last week was one of tears, uncertainty and deep agony for many Nigerians residing in Port Harcourt. Akas Baba, comical OAP at Wazobia FM, was kidnapped. Not only was he kidnapped, but was shot in the leg in front of his kids and wife, and taken away bleeding by some unknown men who have demanded that N10m be sitting sweetly in their account before he'll breathe free air again.

It's unexplainably harsh for that to be the fate of any man walking the earth, and to think that it was perpetrated while his family watched helplessly, and terrified, further leaves a sick feeling in my stomach.

Kidnapping in Nigeria, which gained prominence in Port Harcourt due to some political manipulations in bad faith, and the amount of expatriate workers prowling the streets, had spread into Akwa Ibom State, with rotund oil-dripping politicians feeling the edge of the brutality. The easterners, always on the lookout for any money-spinning racket, jumped on it, and kidnapped with impunity. They changed the rules of the game. The rich weren't the only targets. But the middle class workers, and generally any mortal who they felt could string together N50k.

But a consolidated effort from the law enforcement agencies, and a great deal of community policing, fought the bandits into decline, and later, obscurity. But now, they are back…with a bang.

We totally comprehend that the basic drive for Akas Baba's kidnapping was to milk his work firm, but asking for N10m is a bit of an overkill. Akas Baba is no business mogul. He is an OAP. He doesn't sit on endless bundles of Naira notes while sniffing and huffing at other less privileged dudes in disdain. He is simply a hardworking voice on the radio who had found a way to be good enough for mass acceptance.

His job not only entertains the citizens of the Niger Delta, it goes way beyond that. Many a dying soul have heard that deep baritone friendly voice, dripping lines of concentrated pidgin English, and felt revived in spirit. Many reports exist about how his shows enlivens and enriches the dull moments of many. He spreads genuine happiness. Akas Baba saves lives.

To kidnap him is to commit a crime not against the law, but against the very fiber of goodness and balance upon which earth was founded. To kidnap him is to wrong the planet. And earth never forgives. The kidnappers might get the money they've felt it good to demand.  Heck, they might even get a bit more. But with the money comes Karma, which will be swift and unmerciful in its execution of Nemesis.

In a wider context, this kidnap episode just throws extra light on the prevalent rot in the Nigerian society. A hardworking Nigerian has become food for other Nigerians. We live in a society where grace and goodness have been eroded by poverty and the desperate worship of money.  Akas Baba's kidnap is one of many daily kidnappings that Nigeria is internationally recognized for. It's a tourist nightmare, and the scourge of the citizens.

There is so much that can be done for Akas Baba, and so little of which we can directly influence. Our urgent hope is that he receives medical attention for the bullet wound which he suffered during his abduction. While on the longer term, a skillful negotiator needs to be contracted, reduce the demanded ransom, and trust the kidnappers to operate in good faith, receive their money and let him go. Not take his life.

And don't you dare entertain heroic ideas about our law enforcement agents tracking him down, storming his cell, and rescuing him. That might be a possibility, but this is Nigeria, not Jack Bauer's '24' series. We are grounded in cold reality, not creative scripting.
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Celebrity Cover! Tana Adelana & Solid Star Cover The March Issue Of House Of Maliq

Check out Solid Star and Tana Adelana as cover stars for House Of Maliq's March 2014 edition!

Solid Star

Nollywood actress' Tana Adelana in belted tailored peg leg pants paired with long sleeve blouse

Both stars shine on the cover of House Of Maliq

Both stars shine on the cover of House Of Maliq.

Actress Tana Ogunlana and Singer and Songwriter, Solid Star are the cover stars for online magazine, House Of Maliq March 2014 edition.

Bold fashion came to play as Solid star was dapper in bright -blue and red jacket over matching pants, with his signature locks tossed around and playfully tied.

It made rather bright statements especially because it was styled with equally bright print shirts; it was clean, refreshing, bold and he pulled it off quite well.

Tana Ogunlana took the shine as she was also styled in bright hues. She was styled in polka dot tailored pants with belt details over long sleeve blouse on a gorgeous tan and black sandal spotting  big hair.

«A second look saw her casually draping a boyfriend blazer over a lingerie-bandeau dress, a red feather brooch and black louboutins. Her third look saw her ditching the boyfriend jacket, revealing her svelte shape in the fitted black lingerie-bandeau with lace details where she had 'apples' as neck-piece, she rocked a show stopping peacock neck-piece for the cover look with pretty long locks and bang.

Credit- Solidstar

Photography - Dazzle

Studio Styled by - Jason Samuel

Makeup - Maiworld

Costumes and Accessories - Jasonporche

Graphics - John XCreative

Director - Malik Zenishia Zainab

Co-ordinated - Singer Azeezat

Credit- Tana Adelana

Photography - Dazzle Studio

Styled by - Jason Samuel

Makeup - Maiworld

Hair by sylvia 

HairCostumes and Accessories - Polished Detals

Graphics - John XCreative Director - Malik Zenishia Zainab

Co-ordinator- Azeezat
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Wedding Bells! Nicole Scherzinger And Lewis Hamilton Finally Engaged!

Did he have to pop that question three good times before she agrees?

Nicole Scherzinger and F1 boyfrien Lewis Hamilton engaged!

Nicole and Lewis Hamilton plan August wedding!.

Nicole Scherzinger and longtime boyfriend Lewis Hamilton are finally engaged after the F1 Racing champion reportedly popped the question three times in their five years of dating.

According to sources, the couple plan to move to Switzerland where they'll live and only travel together when Lewis is racing. "It is the ideal plan for the both of them and will hopefully lead to a big summer wedding in August when Lewis has a three-week break from his F1 schedule," a source said.

Nicole's career will allegedly have to take a back seat for a while but she is ready to support her man on the track.

Its no news that both have been on and off after first meeting five years ago. In July 2014 they broke up right before the first live auditions for "The X Factor: UK." However, a month later they were back together again.

Hamilton, 29, was spotted in the garage of a hotel where Scherzinger was staying. Last year, they rekindled their romance, again on a romantic trip to Rome after suffering another break up earlier that same year.

The couple is now said to be planning on setting up a home at Hamilton's Switzerland mansion after a summer wedding in August.

Do you guys think they should get married?
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Surprise Welcome Party Peep Photos From Annie Idibia's

Annie Idibia who has been in the United States since late last year where she went to give birth recently returned to the country and to mark her return, her close friends and family threw a surprise bash for her.

Husband, 2Face Idibia and Dayo of HIP TV were just some of the guests at the bash. Check out the photos above.
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Movie Producers & Marketers Lift Mercy Johnson's Ban

In a press release signed by the spokesman for Film, Video Producers and Marketers Association of Nigeria (FVPMAN), Norbert Ajaegbu, the group said the ban placed on Mercy Johnson has been lifted.

If reports are anything to go by, Nollywood actress Mercy Johnson can now freely return to working on movie sets as the ban which was placed on her a few months ago has now been lifted.

In a press release signed by the spokesman for Film, Video Producers and Marketers Association of Nigeria (FVPMAN), Norbert Ajaegbu, the group said the ban placed on Mercy Johnson has been lifted. According to him:

'Having diligently concluded all the jobs in dispute, she leaves us with no choice than to accept her apology.'He further said 'She is one wonderful personality we would not want to join issues with. She knows when to say sorry. She has concluded all that we asked her to do. We have directed our members to resume all the previous existing relationship with her.'

Mercy Johnson was banned a few months ago from acting for allegedly being 'too expensive'. Good to know we will be seeing more of her on our screens.
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PHOTOS of Genevieve Nnaji’s Daughter

Like mother, like daughter.

According to close friends, this gorgeous lady is the daughter Nollywood star actress, Genevieve Nnaji who has been kept hidden away from fans.

The lady who goes by the name Theo or Chimebuka, is a graduate of Mass Communication from the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, and has actually decided on a career path for herself as she is a certified make-up artist.

In her 20s, we hear that she has made her mother so proud and Genny treats her like her best friend.
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Rita Dominic on gorgeous Emerald Green designer wears

This gorgeous emerald green piece from Lanre Da Silva on Rita Dominic is sheer perfection!

Rita Dominic in Lanre Da Silva

Side View-Rita Dominic in Lanre Da Silva Ajayi

Rita Dominic in Lanre Da Silva
Pulse Jury loves unique fashion statements; they make us fight over each others shoulder to catch a good look and argue over fabulous stuffs (don't you just love our job? we do!).

Nollywood actress and producer, Rita Dominic was spotted in this divine emerald green number to the Pre-AMVCA cocktail and we were left in awe!

Whats not to love? The colour, fabric and drapery? The high low piece was simply stunning, covering all the right places delicately and left fabulous to look like a goddess. The high neck that she pulled off elegantly was a winner for us! Our thoughts what do you think?
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RIP To A Music Icon Cameroon Mourns Lapiro de Mbanga

He was the country's own Fela Anikulapo Kuti – Something like that!

Lapiro de Mbanga giving a speech in US

RIP 'Ndinga Man' - Best known for his anti-Government music.

Cameroonian conscious musician Lapiro de Mbanga has died. The singer reportedly passed on while on self exile in USA on Sunday morning after suffering from a disease he allegedly contacted while serving jail time in Cameroon.

Jacob Nguni, a famous guitarist and ex-soloist of the famed Rocafil Jazz Orchestra by Prince Nico Mbarga confirmed the news to Cameroon-info.net, "It's very hard ...my brother died about 4hours ago ...We're still working out the details."

However, it looks like his death is now been blamed on the Cameroonian government who have jailed the music star countless times because of his anti-Government music, forcing him to relocate to the States for a better life, "This is a criminal act by the Cameroonian Authorities," Nguni stated, "Lapiro died of a disease that was detected in his first year in prison ... which was explicitly ordered not to be treated while he was serving time."

Unfortunately for the star, it was too late to treat himself by the time he was released from jail and went to US.

The shocking revelation came when the same Jacob Ngun mentioned that it's likely the Authorities never wanted to be responsible for his ill health or death, so they released him, "Lapiro was curiously released because the Cameroonian authorities who knew the truth on his illness did not want him to die in prison," he said.

Ndinga Man as he was fondly called, was best known for his non-support of the Government policies especially socio-economic policies and he didn't hold back on blasting them through his famous songs.

May his soul rest in peace.
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Fashion Off! The Tiffany Amber Lily Twist- Who Wore It Best?

Who rocked the heaven out of this gorgeous piece?

Image1: Who wore it best? Tara Fela Durotoye or Ifeoma Williams?

Image2: Who wore it best?: Elohor Aisien in the Lily Twist dress, a stylish skin clutch and peep toe pumps.

Tiffany Amber Model in the Lily Twist dress
The Tiffany Amber lily dress is one fabulous number, the dress requires an elegant way to tie it to gorgeously drape every lady perfectly. It is one stunning piece!

«Tara Fela Durotoye wore the piece in the colour blocked version; a yellow and purple mix, she did gold necklace, earrings and clutch, Ifeoma Williams rocked the orange version and played with colours; she had aquamarine tear drop earrings, handbag, wristwatch and nude strap detailed sandals while Elohor Aisien opted for the yellow piece which she styled with red peep toe pumps and a skin clutch complete with a statement gold wristwatch!

Our favourite celebrities are seen rocking this classy number but we couldn't seem to agree on who wore it best; so guys who do you think rocked the dress best and why?
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Security Tightened as National Conference is Inaugurated Today

APC may review stance on boycott of dialogue.

All is now set for the inauguration today of the National Conference by President Goodluck Jonathan.

In this regard, THISDAY observed at the weekend heightened preparations at the National Judicial Institute (NJI) in Abuja, venue of the conference.

A visit to the venue showed a beehive of activities with some of the 492 delegates who had arrived early for the opening ceremony completing registration formalities.

A special security team, comprising personnel of the military, police riot squad, the anti-bomb unit, and men of the State Security Service (SSS), were busy taking instructions from their team leaders and engaging in last minute rehearsals.

Also, members of the anti-bomb squad were seen combing the premises and making sure that the venue was safe for the delegates.

It was learnt that the existing security arrangement at the institute had been overhauled with hundreds of security men deployed to man strategic areas of the conference venue.
A detachment of the men and officers of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) were also seen yesterday receiving briefings on their expected roles during the proceedings. 

A security staff member attached to the venue told THISDAY that they had been compelled to work round the clock without observing their normal shifts, owing to preparations for the conference.

Besides, at the Giri/Gwagwalada junction, a combined team of the army and riot policemen were seen conducting stop-and-search procedures on all vehicles.  Another detachment was seen at the Zuba /Suleja junction leading to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

In addition, there was the presence of heavy security at the AYA/Nyanya axis and its environs.

THISDAY learnt that the conference organisers had adopted special accreditation procedures to ensure that every conference delegate, including security agencies, journalists and other officials, are subjected to biometrics before being issued a conference tag.
By 5.30 pm yesterday, the number of accredited journalists jostling to cover the event had risen to over 300, while a sizeable number of delegates had arrived Abuja for their accreditation.

Among the electronic media that had started mounting their cameras yesterday in readiness for live broadcast of the opening ceremony were AIT, South African cable television, DSTV and Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).

Meanwhile, a statement from the secretariat of the conference, signed by the Assistant Secretary, Media and Communication, Mr. James Akpandem, has asked delegates to arrive the venue of the conference by 10 am today for accreditation.

"Delegates to the conference are expected to arrive the venue of the inauguration by 10 am for accreditation in preparation for the inauguration ceremony fixed for 4 pm," he said.
He added that all invited guests and delegates were expected to be seated by 3.15 pm ahead of the inauguration by Jonathan.

According to him, the federal government would not provide accommodation for the delegates, as all their benefits will be monetised. 
THISDAY gathered that the delegates will be paid N4 million each as sitting   and accommodation allowances, while the presiding officers would be paid between N5 million and N6 million each.

Akpandem, who did not disclose the amount the delegates would be paid as allowances, said some of the delegates already owned homes in Abuja and therefore it would be needless to provide accommodation for the delegates, adding that the idea was to monetise their accommodation and other allowances.

The conference is expected to cost the federal government N7 billion as provided in the 2014 budget bill. Investigations further revealed that most of the hotels and flights into Abuja were fully booked at the weekend, preparatory to the conference. But as the federal government prepares to kick off the conference, the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) has stated that it may review its stance on boycotting the dialogue at an emergency meeting of its leaders scheduled for tomorrow.

A chieftain of the party and the former National Secretary of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Alhaji Buba Galadima, who spoke to journalists yesterday evening in Abuja shortly after getting his accreditation, said APC would finally decide whether to attend the conference or not during the meeting.

"APC will be meeting on Tuesday where they would decide to attend or not but for now, we have to be part of this so that even if we become minority, the majority can have their way but the minority must have their say. We must put on record what we believe on issues that will be tabled before the conference," he said.

The APC leadership had voiced its opposition to the modalities of the National Conference, which it claimed would amount to a mere distraction in the polity and that it would not serve the interest of majority of Nigerians.
But the party later succumbed to pressure from its state governors who got the approval of the party leadership to nominate delegates to represent their states at the conference.

However, Galadima said his acceptance to attend the conference on the platform of Yobe State would not pose any contradiction to the principled stand of the party.
"There is no contradiction; it is complementary, the APC as a political party said they would not participate but I am coming on a different platform, representing my state, Yobe.

Commenting on the modalities set out for the conference, Galadima said he had no problem with the directive of the federal government on the "no go areas" but maintained that he was prepared to discuss any issue brought before delegates at the conference.
"You know I come from the North-east and the top priority there is the security of lives and property, without which nothing tangible can take place. It is a big priority and naturally one would expect that the one man, one vote principle, would be entrenched in the constitution.

On another note, the President National Youth Council of Nigeria, Wale Ajani has said that the outcome of the conference should be targeted at the future generation.
Ajani, who spoke with journalists at the venue, said the key interest of Nigerian youths is to see to the unity of Nigeria where all have equal rights.
According to him, 30 per cent affirmative action for youths should enshrined in the constitution.
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Great Omoni Oboli, Nollywood's Best Actress

Omoni Oboli, Nollywood Actress and producer has been declared best actress by director Desmond Ovbiagele and Steve Shodiya.

Omoni Oboli has been adjudged the best actress in Nollywood. Desmond Ovbiagele, producer and director of the new film, 'Render to Caesar' and celebrated movie editor Steve Shodiya handed down this verdict during a sneak preview of the film last Tuesday, in Lagos,saying Omoni Oboli stands out among equals.

Steve, the brain behind the post-production of some of the best movies in Nollywood said, as a post-production expert, he sees a lot of things which are captured on camera; the good, the bad and the ugly, and can readily pick out an actor or actress who brings 'life' to a production.

He revealed that sometimes, he uses Omoni's scenes to clean up other actors'shortcomings. "As far as I'm concerned, Omoni Oboli is the best for the roles she played in "Render to Caesar", "Anchor Baby" and "Figurine." No other actor could have interpreted those roles the way she did. Most of them are stereotyped but she is versatile,"he stated. Also, in his own assessment, Desmond Ovbiagele said, Omoni Oboli is highly professional on set.

"I was looking for a professional in terms of her approach to work; I have heard a lot of stories about actors and actresses on set. After my research, I found out that Omoni is very professional and is somebody who knows her onions"

On his new crime thriller, which premieres next month, Desmond said, what he tried to do with the big-budget movie was to set a new standard in Nollywood in terms of acting, scripting, story line and production values.Shot on the acclaimed red Epic camera,"Render to Caesar" features most of Nigeria's finest actors such as Gbenga Akinnagbe, Omoni Oboli, Wale Ojo, Kalu Ikeagwu, Bimbo Manuel among others.
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"SOUTH INVASION TOUR" Mr. 2Kay To Tour Southern Nigeria

Grafton Entertainment-PTP in collaboration with Champagne Music proudly presents Nigerian South Invasion tour with Mr. 2Kay and friends.

The Bubugaga crooner is set for a tour round the south of Nigeria visiting Calabar, Uyo, Yenegoa, Enugu, Owerri, Benin, Warri and Port Harcourt. Mr 2Kay will be joined by his friends as special guests.

The likes of Illbliss, Tha Suspect, Nivvy G have confirmed to be part of the tour. Meanwhile other South based acts like Danas, Splendid, Romel, Rave, Famous, Mc AB, plus more are expected to join in the tour to support Mr. 2Kay.

See full details below.

21/03/14 - Calabar; Beverly Heels Club

22/03/14 - Uyo; Booble Lounge

28/3/14 Yenegoa; Ndu University / Bishop's Court

4/4/14 - Enugu; Xtrreme Sports Bar

5/4/14 - Owerri; Suncity Hotel

11/4/14 - Benin; Novonia Club

12/4/14 - Warri

25/4/14 - Port Harcourt; Zero Zone
VIDEO PREMIERE: MR. 2KAY – DON'T LEAVE ME FT. XCELLENTE & DORAY
Watch and Download: http://youtu.be/bM6RUZwyLv8

Grafton Rerecords proudly presents the video of Mr. 2Kay's 'Don't Leave Me' featuring Xcellente and Doray. The video which was directed by Adasa Cookey of Squareball Films features comedy appearance from Seyi Law and Funny Bone.
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Chris Brown's Duet With Ariana Grande Will Go On Despite Jail Time

Will this duet succeed given Breezy's current situation?

Chris Brown and Ariana Grande's pending duet will be released

Ariana Grande
Despite being in jail, Chris Brown can still be musically useful – at least to 21 year old singer Ariana Grande. The singers' duet - Don't Be Gone Too Long - will push through regardless the weird circumstance and sharp critics from music lovers who feel it's a horrible idea.

Well Ariana cares less about the heavy critics of Brown. To her, Breezy is a talented young artist with so much potential and she's ready to release their hot R&B joint soon. She took to twitter to announce the countdown:

@ArianaGrande: countdown to my duet with @chrisbrown starts tomorrow #dontbegonetoolong  

Maybe her honest feeling towards the Chris Brown treatment got to her because she later twitted this:

@ArianaGrande: can't possibly hurt to try as much as it hurts not to

So guys, are you also waiting impatiently for this duet? Remember, Ariana recently sang at the White House in front of President Barack Obama and the First Lady Michelle as well as shared the stage with music heavyweights like Jill Scott, Janae Monae, Patti Labelle at co.

 
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